Akali Dal chief lashes out at PM Modi at farmer protest: "Resignation hit like a bomb"

Lashing out at its NDA ally since 1997 - BJP, Shiromani Akali Dal (S) chief Sukhbir Singh Bal on Friday, said that Union Cabinet minister Harsmirat Kaur Bal's resignation was like a 'bomb dropped on Modi'. Comparing his wife's resignation to USA's bombing on Japan during World War -II, Bal said that alliance is bigger than farmer. dressing a major farmer's protest rally at Punjab's Lambi vill in Muktsar district, Bal demanded that CM Amarinder Singh must declare state as one 'Mandi' to make three bills 'unenforceable'.     

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Bal resigns in protest

On September 17, during Lok Sabha debate on Farm Bills,  BJP's staunch ally Shiromani Akali Dal (S) opposed three Farm bills in Lok Sabha. S president Sukhbir Singh Bal anunced that  Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Bal will resign from government to protest farm bills. minister stated, "My decision symbolises my party’s vision, its glorious legacy and its commitment to go to any extent to safeguard interests of farmers.” party is yet to decide its future in NDA.

Reports state that BJP leer Man Mohan Mittal has been daring Akali Dal to split away from NDA, ahe of state polls in 2022. BJP-Akali Dal currently have a seat-sharing formula of 94 seats (Akali Dal) and 23 seats (BJP) in state assembly and 10 seats (Akali Dal) and 3 seats (BJP) for Lok Sabha. In order to establish a presence in farmer-strong Punjab, BJP has w demanded  59 seats out of 117 seats in state, as per reports.

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Farmers protests against 3 bills

In food bowl of India - Punjab and Haryana, 31 farmer organisations under aegis of Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) std a Bharat Bandh, taking to streets to block highways. Farmers have alrey started a three-day rail blocke against bills and squatted on tracks at many places in Punjab. Similar protests are currently underway in Karnataka, West Bengal, Tamil Nu with farmers demanding rollback of bills. Prime Minister Modi has assured farmers that mandis and minimum sale price will remain, allaying main concern of farmers and lashed out at Opposition for 'spreing rumours'.

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