Exclusive: Badals took U-turn under pressure from farmer protests :Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa

Rajya Sabha member Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa told ETV Bharat in an exclusive interview that the Farmers' and Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill 2020 and Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill 2020 were passed by the government with haste and without consultation. He further added that farmer leader like Parkash Singh Badal of Akal Dali supporting the bill is surprising.

New Delhi: Rajya Sabha passed the Farmers' and Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill 2020 and Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill 2020 amid protest from the opposition.

Speaking exclusively to ETV Bharat, Rajya Sabha member Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa termed the ruckus in the house as 'unfortunate'. He said, "Bill was passed hurriedly. There could have been more discussions. The way it is passed is sad. I participated in the debate and I requested them to exempt Punjab and Haryana from the bill under Article 370. I was given only minutes to speak."

"Punjab and Haryana farmers are protesting. Their concerns should be addressed," he added. Upon asked about U-turn of Akali Dal on bills, Dhindsa said initially they supported it. "I was part of Shiromani Akali Dal for decades. Farmer leader like Parkash Singh Badal supporting farm ordinances was unexpected. They decided to oppose it after massive protests by farmers outside their house and in their village," he said.

Read:Farm Bills: SAD's 'real face' exposed; Harsimrat's resignation 'unsuccessful drama', says Dhindsa

Dhindsa was expelled from Shiromani Akali Dal and he formed his own party. He told that the process to get his party registered with Election Commission is still on and he debated as independent MP in house. "I had submitted a letter to Chairman with a copy of my expulsion orders and I had requested them to treat me as an independent MP", said Dhindsa.