One of the oldest allies of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Akali Dal's lone minister in the Narendra Modi government, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, resigned from the Union Cabinet on Thursday to protest the farm bills.
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief and her husband Sukhbir Badal had earlier in the day said in the Lok Sabha that Harsimrat Badal, the Minister for Food Processing, will resign in protest as the government tabled two more farm-sector related bills in the lower house amid widespread protests by farmers in Punjab and Haryana.
The SAD, a part of the NDA, had also protested against the first of three such bills, which has already been passed by the Lok Sabha.
Now speculations are on high that the age-old alliance between the SAD and the BJP in NDA may be broken in the upcoming days. On the other hand, experts are seeing the breakup of ties as a step taken for the upcoming elections in Punjab assembly elections. All the political parties have started preparing for the Punjab assembly elections all set to take place after one and half years.
The assembly elections are going to be held in Punjab in 2022. The protests against the farm bill are also being linked to the upcoming elections in the state. Interestingly, the ruling Congress also rose to prominence on the issues of farmers in 2017. Along with this, Shiromani Akali Dal and the Aam Aadmi Party also do not want to let the issue of farmers go away as it is considered to be the main vote bank of Punjab.
The Congress has tried to establish the Akali Dal in Punjab as being anti-farmer because of being an NDA ally, as a party only greedy of power. At the same time, due to the fierce attitude of the farmers, it was becoming difficult for the Akali Dal to separate the stand on this issue. The Aam Aadmi Party has blamed both the Congress and the Akali Dal for the agriculture bill.
What Will Be The Next Step?
In an interview with the Outlook, Harsimrat Kaur said that each and every member of our party is a farmer and farmers have a lot of expectations from us. Our party has always lived up to their expectations. The farmers who trust in us are most sacred to us. I have resigned in their interests. Standing firmly by the farmers, we will now take their fight from the streets to Parliament. All SAD MPs will vote against the agricultural ordinances in Parliament now.
Farmers are taking to the streets in several parts of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to protest on the three agriculture bills. Apart from the ruling Congress party in Punjab, the Bharatiya Kisan Union has also strongly opposed these bills.
What Is The Bill?
The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion And Facilitation) Bill, 2020 essentially provides a system for farmers to sell their products aside from the designated mandis with no threat to the existing structure.
The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill provides the farmer a chance to go into contractual agreements with buyers’ entities.
Why Protest?
Farmers fear that the Centre will end the current system of open-ended FCI procurement. Farmers in Punjab think that the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and other central agencies will shut down annual wheat and rice purchases from the states, leaving them at the mercy of traders' predatory practices.