The Congress on Monday said that its chief Sonia Gandhi has directed party governments in different states to “explore” and pass laws to “override” or negate the newly enacted central farm laws.
Congress’s 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.”
Article 254(2) refers to a scenario where a law made by a state legislature concerning any matter that falls in the Concurrent List contains any provision repugnant to the provisions of an earlier law made by Parliament or an existing law, with respect to that matter. In such a case, the law made by the state legislature will prevail, provided it is reserved for the consideration of the President of India and receives his assent.
It is important to note, however, that neither of the two clauses of Article 254 can prevent Parliament from enacting any law with respect to the same matter, including a law adding to, amending, varying or repealing the law so made by a state legislature.
While the party chief has asked its chief ministers to explore these options, Congress has also launched a virtual campaign called ‘SpeakUp’ to voice support for the farmer agitation.
Addressing media outlets at Khatkar Kalan in Punjab on Monday, Congress leader Harish Rawat said the party is planning to launch a signature campaign starting October 2 in protest against the farm laws. As part of this campaign, the signatures of as many as two crore farmers will be collected and sent to President Ram Nath Kovind on November 14, to coincide with Jawaharlal Nehru’s birth anniversary.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has claimed the party is also looking at legal options and could move the Supreme Court against the farm laws. Apart from Punjab, Congress is in power in Rajasthan, Puducherry, and Chhattisgarh with chief ministers Ashok Gehlot, V Narayanasamy and Bhupesh Baghel respectively.
