New Delhi: Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha on Sunday passed two Agriculture reform bills amid chaos. Harsimrat Kaur Badal of Shiromani Akali Dal as a protest against these bills resigned from Union Council of Ministers. Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal urged the President not to give assent to farm bills and return them to Parliament for reconsideration.
After the clearance of bills, ETV Bharat exclusively interviewed Rajya Sabha MP Balwinder Singh Bhunder of Shiromani Akali Dal. He said," We tried conveying our issues democratically. We also met senior leadership of BJP but our concerns were not addressed. We requested them to consult farmer organisations. They are talking about MSP. 23 crops are on the list for MSP but the question arises about the purchase. The hidden agenda of these bills will finish the mandis and assured purchase of crops which will impact farmers drastically. The bill should include the assurance that private players will buy crops at MSP, if they do not purchase at MSP then they would be fined. 100% purchase of crop should be assured."
Also read: Opposition parties move no-confidence motion against Rajya Sabha deputy chairman
On being asked about the chaos in Rajya Sabha and reducing the time of discussion for SAD, Bhoonder said, "Shiromani Akali Dal is the oldest regional party, we fought with Britishers, we fought with Congress after independence. Akali Dal stood for principles including more power to state, farmers and Sikh community. Congress tried to attack Hindu Sikh unity, created water disputes and other problems. The alliance between two united Hindu and Sikh community but if our voice is suppressed then it's unfortunate."
Congress in Punjab blamed Shiromani Akali Dal for U-turn. Party leaders claimed that Akali Dal initially supported these bills but after strong protests by farmers it had to oppose bills, labelling the resignation of Harsimrat Kaur Badal as a political gimmick. Reacting on this, Bhoonder said that it is unfortunate and the political parties in Punjab should now unite and fight for farmers. Congress had these recommendations in their manifesto and now they should not blame others.
