The State government on Monday informed the Legislative Assembly that it would announce the decision on whether to refer the controversial Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (Amendment) Bill, 2007 to the Joint Select Committee of the Legislature, today.
Home Minister M P Prakash, reacting to the opposition by many members to various provisions aimed at liberalising the agricultural produce market proposed in the Bill, due to the law enacted by the Centre, said that the decision in this regard would be taken after consulting the Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy.
Mr Praksh told Mr D R Patil (Cong) that Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, Agriculture Minister Sharanabasappa Darshanapur and himself (Prakash) subscribed to the demand for referring the Bill to the committee, but decision could be taken only after discussing the matter with the Chief Minister.
Following this the discussion on the Bill were adjourned to today.Earlier participating in the discussion on the Bill, Leader of the Opposition Dharam Singh said while the Congress supported the Bill, it wanted the government to take steps to protect the interest o f daily wage workers employed in APMCs. Senior Congress Leader Mallikarjun Kharge wanted the government to retain the definition of “agriculturist” as defined in the Land Reforms Act.
Mr J C Madhuswamy (JDU) strongly opposed the Bill contending it would destroy the market system in the State.
Mr G V Sriramareddy (CPM) said that the Bill was aimed at allowing the multi-national companies in the APMCs.
He felt that the Bill if passed would strongly affect the interest of small and medium farmers. Mr Ramesh Kumar (Cong) expressed his opposition to allowing of contract farming system.