The opposition led by Congress is pushing for a resolution to send the bills to a select committee.
New Delhi:
BJP ally Shiromani Akali Dal has said that the three agricultural sector bills, which have sparked a storm of protests in several states, including Punjab and Haryana, will be sent to a select committee before a decision is made. about. “Don’t think Punjab farmers are weak,” said Naresh Gujral of Akali Dal. The Akali Dal, who initially supported the bills, opposed the bills after realizing the deep resentment of farmers on the issue.
Last week, when the bills were introduced in the Lok Sabha, the only Akali minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, had resigned. The minister, who was part of the cabinet that approved the bill, had received much criticism in the state.
Although the party initially said it would continue to provide external support to the government, after continued pressure from farmers and Congress, the BJP’s oldest ally said they would review the partnership.
As two of the three bills were presented at Rajya Sabha this morning, Akali Dal’s Naresh Gujral demanded a select committee “so that all concerned can be heard.”
The congressional-led opposition, which likely lacks the number to effectively block the bills, is pushing for a resolution to be passed to a select committee.
Akali Dal had initially asked the Center to postpone invoices until farmers’ concerns were addressed. But with the BJP’s decision to pass the bills in Lok Sabha, the Akalis had voted against it.
The party’s head, Sukhbir Badal, had called Akali Dal a “farmers party” and had failed to convince the BJP ally despite a two-month discussion on the issue. “You cannot be part of the government that has not examined the rights of farmers,” he said, adding that “they had no choice but to withdraw support (for the bills).”
When asked if Akali Dal would continue his alliance with the BJP, Mr. Badal told NDTV: “Look, we are the founding members of the NDA. But with the situation, our party will reunite. We will see the situation. In our party there is a central committee that makes all the decisions. “
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