Leader of BJP legislature party Babulal Marandi criticized the state government’s move to hold an Assembly debate on the three new farm laws enacted by the Centre saying it was a ploy to skirt real issues plaguing the state of Jharkhand.

Speaking with reporters at the party office on Sunday afternoon, Marandi snubbed the Hemant government for demeaning laws that have been enacted by Parliament. “We have learnt that tomorrow (Monday), a debate on farm laws is scheduled in the Assembly. It is surprising how it is being done in the Assembly after the bill has already been made into law. It is just beyond logic,” he said.

Jharkhand Assembly is expected to debate on the contentious farm laws after a proposal by the ruling JMM-Congress-RJD government aimed at passing a resolution against the legislations like some of the non-BJP ruled states such as Delhi, Rajasthan and Chattisgarh.

Marandi accused the Hemant government of avoiding real issues to debate in the House. “The state has seen a series of law and order issues since this government came into power. There is corruption everywhere, and illegal mining and other unlawful activities are going on unabated which directly concern the people. But rather than debating real issues, the government is resorting to petty politics," Marandi said.

The Congress hit back at the BJP, asking why it was shying away from a debate in the House if it was convinced the farm laws were good. "Amid the Covid-19 pandemic last year, the BJP-led government in the Centre passed the controversial laws through an Ordinance without discussion in Parliament," the state Congress spokesperson Alok Dubey said in a statement.

"If the laws were so good, there shouldn’t have been nationwide protests by farmers since the last four months. The BJP should debate the laws in the Assembly tomorrow rather than run away,” he said, adding that in the past Delhi, Rajasthan and Chattisgarh assemblies had debated and passed resolutions against the farm laws.