Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal resigns from Modi govt over 'anti-farmer legislations'

Food Processing minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal has submitted her resignation to the Prime Minister Office late on Thursday evening, in protest of the farm bills.

"I have resigned from Union Cabinet in protest against anti-farmer ordinances and legislation. Proud to stand with farmers as their daughter and sister," Badal tweeted.

Shiromani Akali Dal ( SAD) could never be a party to any decision that goes against the interests of the farmers, she said in a press statement. However, on the three-decades old alliance formed by Parkash Singh Badal and Atal Behari Vajpayee she said she was confident that the alliance would continue to work together to maintain the hard earned atmosphere of peace and communal harmony in Punjab.



“My decision symbolizes my party’s vision, its glorious legacy and its commitment to go to any lengths in fighting for and safeguarding the interests of the farmers,” she said in a four-page letter of resignation addressed to the Prime Minister.

In her letter, Badal said her decision follows “the decision of the Government of India to go ahead with the controversial Bills without addressing and removing the apprehensions of the farmers and the decision of the Shiromani Akali Dal not to be a part of something that is anti farmers.”

She has requested the Prime Minister to accept her resignation “with immediate effect.”

Badal said that “before during and after the promulgation of the three Ordinances” , she had tried her best to persuade the Cabinet to take the actual stake holders of this decision, the farmers, on board and remove their apprehensions and concerns.

“All this while, I was given the impression that since an Ordinance is only a temporary arrangement, my concerns and pleas would be addressed while legislating on the issue in the Parliament.”

Badal said she was deeply hurt that despite her and her party’s persistent pleas and efforts in this regard, the government had not taken the farmers on board.

“I am proud that today I am able in my humble way to take that legacy forward,” said Badal, adding that she deemed it an honour that farmers always have the greatest expectations from SAD alone, and that the party has always lived up to those expectations. “That legacy will not change, come what may. The trust farmers place in us is sacred to us,” she said.

Badal said that she did not consider her step as any “sacrifice” but just a natural and normal course for any proud Akali wedded to the panthic values and to the cause of the farmers, whom she described as “annadata” of the nation.”The real sacrifices are made by the farmers themselves. I am just standing by them as their daughter and sister.”

She said that her decision was “ guided by the iconic legacy of Sardar Parkash Singh Badal for fighting to defend national interests, be it against the Emergency or for the establishment of a federal structure in the country as well as preserving externals security or food security.”

She said that her party , “always followed the great Guru Sahiban who have taught us never to compromise on one’s principles and to stand up for what one strongly believes to be right. That is precisely what I am doing today,” she said.

Earlier in the day her husband and Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal announced in the Lok Sabha that the minister will quit in protest against the three farm bills tabled by the Centre in Parliament.