'Very unfortunate' that farmers not taken on board over bills: Sukhbir

Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Bal on Friday said it was “very unfortunate” that BJP-led government did t take farmers on board on three agriculture-related bills, asserting that his party h brought ir apprehensions to its tice.

Bal also slammed Congress for t voting against bills in Parliament, a reference to walkout from House by opposition party before voting took place in Lok Sabha.

bills seek to deregulate sale of agricultural produce to ensure better prices for farmers. But many farm organisations and opposition parties say y are a step towards dismantling minimum support price (MSP) regime.

Bal’s wife Harsimrat Kaur Bal resigned from Narendra Modi government on Thursday, saying it h t paid heed to concerns over bills.

“It was very unfortunate,” Bal told PTI over phone.

In her four-p resignation letter, Harsimrat Kaur Bal wrote that she kept trying to persue Union Cabinet to take farmers on board and deal with ir concerns over farm ordinances, which preceded bills.

All this while, I was given impression that since an ordinance is only a temporary arrangement, my concerns and pleas would be dressed while legislating on issue in Parliament, she wrote.

S voted against Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, Farmers’ Produce Tre and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, and Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill in Lok Sabha.

S chief and Ferozepur MP Sukhbir Bal said he h tried to bring farmers' concerns to tice of government for two months.

“I met every farmer union and farm leers. Our effort was that whatever feelings y have should be incorporated in bills,” he said.

But y did t agree to it, he said, referring to government. party n tried to make government send bills to a select committee, he ded.

“n in end, we h choice,” Bal said, referring to Harsimrat Kaur’s resignation.

If you draft a bill for somebody and he is unhappy n what is use of such a bill? he asked, stressing on need of consulting farmers. Asked if Akali Dal would support farmers' call for a 'Punjab Bandh' on September 25, Bal said his party is with farmers, for farmers and will fight for m.

On still continuing alliance with BJP, he said party leership will soon meet and take a final decision. Hitting out at Congress, S chief said its members did t vote against bills in Parliament.

He ded that Congress in its manifesto for 2019 Lok Sabha polls h promised to repeal Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) Act and allow free inter-state tre without any restrictions.

Accusing Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh of playing a “double game”, Bal claimed that Congress leer was part of a high-powered committee on agriculture and his government h “participated” in framing ordinances. 

(Im Credits:Twitter/officeofssbal)