Udupi: Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Shobha Karandlaje described the protests against the farm legislations as being done to oppose the BJP."These billes were debated at length in parliament, and all political parties participated in it. These bills have a long history, and incidently also figure in the congress manifesto. Sharad Pawar, the then agriculture minister, had written to all concerned, on shutting down APMCs," she said.

Interacting with reporters on Friday, the MP said that the DMK has promised to scrap APMCs if it came in to power. "There is no APMC Act in kerala. Congress ruled states have delisted fruits and vegetables, she said, adding the opposition has resorted to crass politics on the bills that are now laws. The bills were referred to the standing committee on agriculture in Parliament, and this committee has Congress MPs on it as well," said Karandlaje.

"The Punjab government has bowed down to the APMC lobby, which is exploiting farmers there. The Amarinder Singh government there is fighting to protect this lobby, and not farmers," she said. Asserting that farmers will benefit from the new farm laws the MP said that while APMCs will continue to function, farmers are free to sell their produce to highest bidder, The PM has Introduced these bills based on his experience in Gujarat, she said.