New Delhi: Anguished over the passage of farm bills in Lok Sabha, Punjab Congress MLA Kuljit Singh Nagra has tendered his resignation. His resignation comes after Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal resigned from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cabinet.
Talking exclusively to ETV Bharat Nagra said," I have tendered resignation as MLA from Fatehgarh Sahib. This is my personal decision and I didn't want to be part of history in any wrong way, adding that Akali Dal did not oppose when the ordinances were drafted initially.
Tweeting the information, Nagra said, “Deeply saddened by the passage of farm Bills by the BJP-Akali government. I hereby tender my resignation as the MLA of Fatehgarh Sahib in support of the farmers’ cause.”
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Deeply saddened by the passing of farmer Bill by the BJP-Akali Govt. I hereby tender my resignation as MLA Fatehgarh Sahib in support of farmer's cause. @PunjabGovtIndia @capt_amarinder @CMOPb @ANI @abpsanjha @News18Punjab @ZeePunjabHH @BabushahiCom @sunilkjakhar @RanakpINC
— Kuljit Nagra (@kuljitnagra1) September 17, 2020 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
">Deeply saddened by the passing of farmer Bill by the BJP-Akali Govt. I hereby tender my resignation as MLA Fatehgarh Sahib in support of farmer's cause. @PunjabGovtIndia @capt_amarinder @CMOPb @ANI @abpsanjha @News18Punjab @ZeePunjabHH @BabushahiCom @sunilkjakhar @RanakpINC
— Kuljit Nagra (@kuljitnagra1) September 17, 2020Deeply saddened by the passing of farmer Bill by the BJP-Akali Govt. I hereby tender my resignation as MLA Fatehgarh Sahib in support of farmer's cause. @PunjabGovtIndia @capt_amarinder @CMOPb @ANI @abpsanjha @News18Punjab @ZeePunjabHH @BabushahiCom @sunilkjakhar @RanakpINC
— Kuljit Nagra (@kuljitnagra1) September 17, 2020
The Punjab government has been strongly opposing the ordinances calling them 'anti-farmers'. Nagra said,"I have rose above political affiliation. I had heard my 'inner voice' which says that it was a black day in Punjab's history.
The Congress MLA had also expressed apprehension that the voices of millions of farmers have been ignored by the representatives.
“As an MLA, this is what I could do to register my protest strongly. I do not want to be a part of the history which will remind everyone about this major setback to the farmers,” he said. A senior government functionary in the Chief Minister’s Office expressed surprise over Nagra’s decision.
Extending solidarity to the farmers, Nagra said, "I want to tell them that I am no more a legislator, but a farmer like them now."
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Farmers in Punjab had blocked several roads including the Amritsar-Delhi national highway and held agitations in different parts of the state on Monday to protest the farm ordinances promulgated by the Centre.
The farmers are demanding a rollback of the Farmers'' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Ordinance, 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020.
Farmers have expressed apprehension that the three ordinances would pave way for the dismantling of the minimum support price system and they would be at the "mercy" of big corporates. They have been demanding a rollback of the three ordinances.
The Congress-led government in the state, which is spearheading a campaign against the ordinances, had described these ordinances as a "blatant attack" on the federal structure.
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With PTI inputs
