Farmer unions at a press conference at Singhu Border. (Express Photo by Praveen Khanna)
However, except for Section 3, other key provisions of the law are in for substantial change if the Centre’s proposal is accepted. Two changes through amending Sections 4 and 6 are likely to restore powers of the states – the dilution of the state’s role was a point of contention.
Among the Centre’s proposed amendments is the dilution of Section 4 that expanded the scope of a potential buyer to anyone with a PAN card. The Centre’s concession is now to empower states to make rules on registration of buyers. The proposal gives states a foot in the door in determining who is a buyer. In the current mandi system, commission agents have to get a licence to trade in a mandi.