Narendra Singh Tomar gets Harsimrat Badal's ministry as President accepts her resignation

President of India Ram Nath Kovind, as vised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has accepted resignation of Harsimrat Kaur Bal from Union Council of Ministers, with immediate effect,  Rashtrapati Bhavan said in a statement. It ded that as vised by Prime Minister, President Kovind has directed that Cabinet Minister Narendra Singh Tomar be assigned charge of Ministry of Food Processing Industries, in dition to his existing portfolios.

'I find it impossible to continue'

Shiromani Akali Dal leer Harsimrat Kaur Bal on Thursday said her decision to resign from Union Cabinet to protest against three farm sector bills "symbolises my party's vision, its glorious legacy and its commitment to go to any extent to safeguard interests of farmers". "I am proud that today I am able in my humble way to take that legacy forward, she said.

In her four-p resignation letter dressed to Prime Minister, she said, "In view of decision of government of India to go ahe with Bill on issue of marketing of agricultural produce without dressing and removing apprehensions of farmers and decision of my party, Shiromani Akali Dal, t to be a part of anything that goes against interest of farmers, I find it impossible to continue to perform my duties as a minister in Union Council of Ministers."

Lok Sabha on Thursday passed Farmers Produce Tre and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill and Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill. It has alrey passed Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill. y will replace ordinances promulgated by Union government. She said she has requested Prime Minister to accept her resignation with immediate effect.

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'Many forces are trying to misle farmers'

Meanwhile, hailing pass of three farm sector bills in Lok Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday described se proposed legislations as historic and asserted that y will rid farmers and farm sector of middlemen and or bottlenecks. se reforms will provide new opportunities to farmers to sell ir produce and will le to increased profits for m, he said. "Many forces are trying to misle farmers," he ded while assuring m of benefits of se reforms.

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(With ncy inputs)