Key Points :
- Shiromani Akali Dal walked out of BJP-led NDA Alliance over the Government’s refusal to address farmers’ concerns over MSP.
- SAD Leader Sukhbir Singh Badal called upon all opposition parties to unite to protect the interests of the farmers.
- Farmers across the country continue to protest the contentious farm bills demanding they be repealed.
Shiromani Akali Dal quit the National Democratic Alliance on Saturday over the Centre’s failure to address the concerns of the farmers on the contentious farm bills passed last week. SAD Chief Sukhbir Singh Badal said the new farm bills can have disastrous implications on the national economy and social stability. He called upon all opposition parties to close ranks and unite to fight against the contentious farm bills and stand by the farmers of the country.
I call upon all political parties & orgs to close ranks & protect the interests of #farmers, farm labour & farm produce traders in the country. @Akali_Dal_ will not flinch from its ideals. It's for the cause of farmers’ welfare we broke alliance with #BJP-led #NDA. pic.twitter.com/FnCsLzZFgc
— Sukhbir Singh Badal (@officeofssbadal) September 27, 2020
The party core committee took the decision to exit the NDA after a four-hour meeting. At gatherings of party workers and farmers at Ropar, Hoshiarpur and Phagwara in Punjab, Mr. Badal said,”The farmers’ economic plight affects the entire economy. Anything like the new farm bills, which increases the uncertainty about the fate of farmers’ produce can have disastrous implication for the economy and social stability of the country. Therefore, what we are fighting for is to protect the country’s wider national interests,”
Trinamool Congress Leader Derek O’ Brien tweeted in support of the SAD.
We support @officeofssbadal @Akali_Dal_ 's stand with the farmers. Fighting for farmers is part of Trinamool DNA. In 2006, @mamataofficial risked her life on a historic 26 day fast for farmers’ rights. We oppose #FarmBills2020 as they endanger States’ role, MSP, PDS & procurement
— Derek O'Brien | ডেরেক ও'ব্রায়েন (@derekobrienmp) September 27, 2020
Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Raut also put a post in SAD’s support saying, “Shiv Sena appreciates Akali Dal’s decision to break its ties with NDA in the interest of farmers.”
NCP President Sharad Pawar also expressed solidarity with SAD in his tweet.
Congratulations to Shri Sukhbir Singh Badal President of @Akali_Dal_ and MP @HarsimratBadal_ who under the leadership of Hon. Shri Prakash Singh Badal pulled out of NDA in a protest to Farmers’ Bills. Thanks for firmly standing with the Farmers! @officeofssbadal
— Sharad Pawar (@PawarSpeaks) September 27, 2020
SAD was the BJP’s oldest ally before it quit the NDA over the government’s failure to assure procurement of crops on minimum support price, and exclusion of Punjabi as an official language in Jammu and Kashmir. SAD is the third major member to pull out of the alliance after Shiv Sena and the Telugu Desam Party.
“We are ready to join or follow any struggle in the overall interests of the farmers, farm labour, aarhatiyas (farm agents) and other farm produce traders,” Mr. Badal said calling upon all political parties and organisations to unite to protect the interests of the farmers, farm labour and produce traders in the country and also announced his party’s commitment to preserve peace, communal harmony and fraternity in Punjab.
Farmers across the country have been protesting the three bills passed by the Centre stating that the bills will destroy livelihoods and naming the bills ‘anti-farmer.’ The major concern of the farming community is the ending of the Minimum Support Price system and the entry of private players. The opposition parties have backed the farmers’ demands seeking legislative guarantee for MSP.
Earlier last week, PM Modi had defended the farmers’ bills, calling them ‘revolutionary’ and alleging critics of misleading farmers.
