Sonia asks Cong-ruled states to pass laws to bypass farm reforms

Congress’ Rajya Sabha member KC Venugopal said in a statement: “The Congress President has asked party-ruled states to explore the possibilities to pass laws in their respective states under Article 254(2) of the Constitution, which allows the state legislatures to pass laws to override central laws that then go for President’s assent.” The Congress asserted that since agriculture is a State subject, the Union government cannot pass laws on it.

“This will enable the states to negate the unacceptable anti-farmers’ provisions in the three draconian agricultural laws, that will lead to abolition of MSPs and disruption of APMCs in Congress-ruled states, and save the farmers from grave injustice done by the central govt,” Venugopal added.

Meanwhile, Indian Youth Congress activists set a tractor on fire at India Gate in the heart of Lutyens Delhi on Monday morning to voice their protest against the contentious farm laws.

Five people claiming to be members of the Punjab Youth Congress have been detained, police said. According to the police, around 15-20 people carried a tractor on a truck to Rajpath, Man Singh Crossing. They unloaded the tractor from the truck and set it on fire. Fire officials said they were informed about the incident at 7.42 am and two fire tenders were rushed to the spot. The blaze has been doused off and tractor was removed, police said. IYC media incharge Rao said activists of its Punjab unit demonstrated at the India Gate on the occasion of the birth anniversary of revolutionary freedom fighter Bhagat Singh.