Harsimrat Kaur Badal Resigns From Union Cabinet: Why Shiromani Akali Dal Is Risking 23-Year Alliance With BJP Over Farm Bills

File image of SAD leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal. PTI

The Shiromani Akali Dal and the Bharatiya Janata Party have been in alliance for 23 years, but today, the long-standing association seems to be falling apart.

Differences have emerged between the two parties on three agricultural sector bills that the BJP intends to pass in Parliament. Passing these bills could harm the interests of the Akalis in their own territory, where farmers’ bodies have vehemently opposed the legislation.

SAD leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal said on Thursday that her decision to resign from the Union Cabinet to protest against three agricultural sector bills “symbolizes my party’s vision, its glorious legacy and its commitment to go anywhere. measure to safeguard the interests of farmers. ” “I am proud that today I can, with my humility, carry that legacy forward,” she said.

In his four-page letter of resignation to the Prime Minister, he said: “In view of the decision of the Government of India to go ahead with the bill on the marketing of agricultural products without addressing and eliminating the arrests of farmers and the decision of my party, Shiromani Akali Dal, not to be part of anything that goes against the interests of farmers, it is impossible for me to continue performing my duties as a minister in the union’s council of ministers. “

The bills seek to deregulate the sale of agricultural products to ensure better prices for farmers. But many agricultural organizations and opposition parties say they are a step toward dismantling the minimum support price (MSP) regime.

The Lok Sabha approved on Thursday the Draft Law on Trade in Agricultural Products and Trade (Promotion and Facilitation) and the Farmers Agreement (Empowerment and Protection) on Price Guarantee and Agricultural Services Law. You have already passed the Essential Commodities Bill (Amendment). They will replace the ordinances promulgated by the government of the Union.

SAD’s changing views on farm bills

SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal lamented on Friday that the BJP had not taken into account his reservations against the bill. He said it was very unfortunate that the BJP-led government did not accept farmers in all three agriculture-related bills, and claimed that his party had reported its apprehensions.

Sukhbir also criticized Congress for not voting against the bills in Parliament, a reference to the Opposition party leaving the House before the vote took place in Lok Sabha.

But this has not been the position of his party from the beginning.

Just a month ago, when the current day’s bills were introduced as ordinances because the Lok Sabha was not in session, Sukhbir did not find them so distasteful.

Sharing his correspondence with the Union Minister of Agriculture Narender Singh Tomar with the media, Sukhbir claimed that the three ordinances were not a threat to the minimum support price system. He said he received a categorical clarification from Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the MSP system will remain a priority.

“The APMC (Agricultural Products Marketing Committee) state law and the institutions established under said statutes will continue to operate and will not be affected in any way by these ordinances,” Badal said commenting on another key aspect that is now one of the main reasons whose opposition criticizes the new legislation.

He also criticized Congress for trying to “mislead farmers” about the ordinances.

Sukhbir was quoted as saying by The Indian Express that certain elements “pretending to be farmers’ champions” had been busy misleading farmers, “claiming that these ordinances would end the practice of the government buying crops from farmers in the MSP.

“This written commitment from the Government of India is a slap in the face of these conspirators and their masters in Congress. These people have been active in becoming relevant at the expense of farmers, and have engaged in ruthless propaganda that seeks and MSP will stop, “Sukhbir said.

Compare this to what Harsimrat had to say on Friday, the day after he resigned from the cabinet over the issue.

“During all this time, I had the impression that since an ordinance is only a temporary fix, my concerns and pleas would be addressed while legislating on the matter in Parliament. But I write it with a very heavy heart that despite my persistent pleas in addition to the repeated efforts of my party, the SAD, in this sense, the government has not accepted the farmers, “he said.

“The trust that farmers place in us is sacred to us,” he said.

Kaur, who held the portfolio of food processing industries, said: “My party and I are deeply pained that we have not been able to persuade the government to refer the bills governing the marketing of agricultural products to a select committee. However, she expressed her satisfaction that she was able to live up to the expectations of the people who have placed all their trust in her “.

Why is Badals so angry at the agricultural sector bills?

The problem strikes too close to home for the Badals to ignore it further. Agriculture is a dominant occupation in Punjab and the party performed poorly in the last Assembly elections mainly because it lost the support of farmers. And Punjab is one of the states where the agitation of farmers against the Bills has gathered steam.

According to PTI, Agitated farmers in the state warned on Tuesday that any deputy from Punjab who supports agricultural bills in parliament will not be allowed into villages as they blocked roads in many places as part of their state protest.

Bhartiya Kisan (Lakhowal) Union Secretary General Harinder Singh Lakhowal called the bills “worse than coronavirus”, saying they would negatively affect farmers, arthiyas (commission agents) and farm workers, if are implemented.

Lakhowal said his team, along with 11 other farmers’ organizations, will do everything possible to force the government to reverse the bills.