In a statement here, Badal said it was a “dark day for the country” as the president refused to act as the conscience of the nation. ”
He also claimed that only the SAD was a farmers’ party, not the BJP or Congress.
“We had high hopes that the president would return these bills to Parliament for reconsideration, as demanded by the SAD and some other opposition parties,” he said, adding that his party will mark the next course of action after due deliberations. .
President Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday he gave his consent to three controversial agricultural bills that have sparked protests, especially in Punjab and Haryana.
An SAD delegation led by Badal had met with the president, urging him not to consent to the agrarian bills and to return them to Parliament for reconsideration.
On Saturday, SAD resigned from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) over agricultural laws and the non-inclusion of Punjabi as an official language in the Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Bill.
The Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Bill 2020 provides for the inclusion of Kashmir, Dogri and Hindi in the list of official languages, in addition to Urdu and English.
The SAD chief also regretted that before drafting the agrarian legislation, his party was not consulted by the government.
“There is only one party in the country called the party of the farmers, the poor and the khet mazdoor (agricultural workers),” he said while addressing party workers in Rupnagar.
Neither Congress nor the BJP can be called peasant parties, he said.
He said the agricultural bills, if implemented, will affect not only farmers but also agricultural workers and arhtiyas (commissioners).
The SAD chief called on all political parties and organizations to close ranks for a united struggle.
“We are ready to join or follow any fight in the general interest of farmers, farm workers, arhtiyas and other traders of agricultural products,” said Badal.
Badal said the country needed to understand and empathize with farmers in view of the “pathetic conditions” in which they live.
“Anything like new agricultural legislation that increases uncertainty about the fate of farmers’ products can have disastrous implications not only for the economy but also for social stability in the country,” he said.
“The difficult economic situation of farmers affects the entire economy. Therefore, what we are fighting is to protect the broader national interests of the country, “he said.
Badal also addressed party workers in Hoshiarpur and Phagwara in order to mobilize people for a Kisan march on October 1.
He reiterated the firm commitment of his party to preserve peace, community harmony and brotherhood in Punjab.
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