New Delhi: In a set back to the BJP government at the centre, Harsimrat Kaur Badal of the Shiromani Akali Dal, the long time BJP ally in Punjab has resigned as union Minister for Food Processing in protest of what she termed the Modi government’s “anti-farmer ordinances and legislation”.
“I have resigned from Union Cabinet in protest against anti-farmer ordinances and legislation. Proud to stand with farmers as their daughter & sister, ” Harsimrat tweeted this evening.
The development comes hours after SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal announced in Lok Sabha on Thursday that Harsimrat will quit the Modi government in protest against the three farm bills tabled by the Centre in Parliament.
In his speech during 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, Sukhbir Singh Badal said the proposed laws will “destroy” the 50 years of hard work done by successive Punjab governments to build the farm sector.

He recalled Punjab’s 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 government,” he said in Lok Sabha.

She is the only SAD representative in the Modi government. The Punjab party is the oldest BJP ally. (With inputs from PTI)

Press Trust of India