Shiv Sena legislators divided over APMC bill

The proposed Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) bill has left Sena legislators divided.

While some of them were in favour of passage of the bill, others preferred that alternative arrangements be made to protect farmers.

The state Cabinet had earlier taken a decision that would have allowed farmers to sell their produce in the open market. The decision was opposed by the traders’ lobby and they had kept the shut for several days in June.

Subhash Deshmukh, minister for marketing, presented the bill in the Assembly on Wednesday. However, Shiv Sena, which is sharing power with the BJP in the state government and at the Centre, were divided over the bill. Sena legislator Anil Kadam, who represents Niphad constituency in Nashik district, the biggest APMC for onions in Asia, strongly opposed the draft bill. Dr Vijay Auti from Parner in Ahmednagar, MoS Arjun Khotkar and MoS Gulabrao Patil also opposed it. Mr Khotkar is the chairman of APMC in Jalna district whereas Mr Patil has hold on two APMCs in Jalgaon district.

Those opposed said the bill would affect the security of farmers.