To support farmers, ex-Punjab CM & SAD Supremo Parkash Singh Badal returns Padma Vibhushan

In a big blow to Centre, former Punjab CM and Akali Dal supremo Parkash Singh Badal has decided to return his Padma Vibhushan award and has written about the same to the President of India. In his letter, Parkash Singh Badal has said that the decision has been taken in protest against “the betrayal of the farmers by the Government of India’s and against the shocking indifference and contempt with which the Centre is treating the ongoing peaceful and democratic agitation of the farmers against the three farm Acts.”

His announcement comes as Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh met Home Minister Amit Shah and placed the ball in Centre's court stating that it is the Centre who will give assurance to the farmers and fulfill their demands. The Centre is holding its 4th round of talks with the farmers' union at the time of publishing.

The senior Badal said in his letter.“I am who I am because of the people, especially the common farmer. Today when he has lost more than his honour, I see no point in holding on to the Padma Vibhushan honour”. He continued, “When the country honoured me with Padma Vibhushan, I knew that it was only in acknowledgment of my commitment to the people in which the farmers featured most prominently. I owe it to them.”

Lashing out at the Narendra Modi-led Central government, Badal listed his reasons for feeling “hurt and betrayed” by the government’s attitude and actions against the farmers. “When the Government of India had brought the Ordinances, assurances were given that the farmers’ apprehensions on these Ordinances would be addressed to their satisfaction while bringing the relevant Bills and subsequently the Acts. Trusting these assurances, I even appealed to the farmers to believe the Government’s word. But I was shocked when the Government simply went back on its word,” he said.

Badal claimed that while “corporate loans worth lakhs of crores are waived off, no one has ever thought of even subsiding the farm debts". Badal described the farm laws as “the Black Laws" and said that it adds to the woes of the farmers and serve as “the last nail in the coffin of the country’s annadata." The former Chief Minister also noted that he had been deeply pained to see "conspiracies and vicious propaganda unleashed to paint this peaceful struggle as anti-national."

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Earlier on Wednesday, Arjuna awardees Sajjan Singh Cheema and Rajbir Kaur, Padma Shree awardee Kartar Singh, Olympic medallist Gurmail Singh and former cricket coach Rajinder Singh returned their awards. The athletes have stated that they will proceed to Delhi on December 5 and place their awards outside the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Former Basketball player and Arjuna awardee Sajjan Singh Cheema strongly criticised the use of water cannons and tear gas shells against the protesting farmers. "But water cannons and teargas shells were used against them when they were going to Delhi. If turbans of our elders and brothers are tossed, then what will we do with our awards and honour? We are in support of our farmers. We do not want such awards and that is why we are returning the same," PTI quoted Cheema. 

READ | Punjab CM Captain Amarinder reiterates opposition over farm laws in Amit Shah meeting

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