INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal
(Photo:AFP)Union minister and Shiromani Akali Dals (SAD) Lok Sabha MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal resign from the Narendra Modi government as a
protest against the three farm bills that have been introduced by the Modi government in Parliament
Harsimrat Kaur Badal, who held the portfolio of Union Minister for Food Processing, said she is "proud" to stand with the farmers against
the bills."I have resigned from the Union Cabinet in protest against anti-farmer ordinances and legislation
Proud to stand with farmers as their daughter and sister," she said in a tweet.Earlier in the day, her husband and Akali Dal president
Sukbhir Singh Badal announced in the Lok Sabha that Harsimrat Kaur Badal will quit the Modi government to protest against the three farm
bills.Sukhbir Badal said this during his speech on a discussion on two of the farm bills -- the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce
(Promotion and Facilitation) Bill and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill.He said
the proposed laws will "destroy" the 50 years of hard work done by successive Punjab governments to build the farm sector.He recalled
Punjabs massive contribution in making India self-sufficient in food grain production as he vehemently opposed the bills."I announce that
Harsimrat Kaur Badal will resign from the Narendra Modi government," Sukhbir Singh Badal said in the Lok Sabha
| Harsimrat Kaur Badal to quit Modi govt: Why the farm bills are controversialThe Shiromani Akali Dal is the oldest ally of the ruling
Bharatiya Janata Party and Harsimrat Kaur Badal was its sole representative in the Modi government
She was a Union minister even in the first term of the Modi government between 2014 and 2019.To protest against the three farm bills that
are being introduced by the Modi government, the Akali Dal has issued a whip to its MPs to vote against the bill.However, since Harsimrat
Kaur Badal is a Union minister, she cant vote against her own government
Sources say this is one of the factors behind the decision to resign.SAD NOT QUITTING NDAHarsimrat Kaur Badal may have resigned from the
Modi cabinet but her party Shiromani Akali Dal is not quitting the National Democratic Alliance.Speaking to India Today TV after her
resignation, Harsimrat Kaur Badal said that SAD is the longest-standing BJP ally
"We are not going to quit the NDA overnight
We are the longest-standing ally of the BJP
I tried to convince the BJP on the Ordinance but they wanted to pass the Bill
So, I could not have kept quiet," she said.WHAT ARE THE FARM BILLS?On Monday, the Modi government introduced The Farmers Produce Trade and
Commerce (Promotion And Facilitation) Bill, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill,
and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill.These bills are aimed to replace the ordinances promulgated by the government in the past.The
government has argued that these measures will free farmers from the existing government-controlled markets and prices, and that they can
enter into agreements with private parties for a better price of their produce.However, farmers are apprehensive and fear that once these
bills are passed by Parliament, they would pave the way for dismantling of the minimum support price (MSP) system and leave the farming
community at the "mercy" of big corporates.Over the last few weeks, farmers have organised protests in several parts of Punjab, Haryana,
Telangana, Rajasthan,among others, against these bills.(With inputs from PTI) | Leave NDA, quit Modi govt if you disagree with farm bills:
Amarinder Singh to Akali Dal | Hyderabad: Farmers protest against 3 agriculture bills tabled in Lok SabhaALSO WATCH | Harsimrat Kaur Badal
resigns from Modi govt over farm bills
