Farmers Movement Archive

Make stand clear on farm ordinances, Bhagwant Mann tells Sukhbir Badal

BATHINDA: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab convener Bhagwant Mann on Friday accused Shiromani Akali Dal of taking a “dual stand” on the three ordinances passed by the Centre on June 5, asking party president Sukhbir Badal to to make the party’s stand clear on whether it wanted to stick to the post of Union minister held by wife Harsimrat Badal or if it would stand by farmers. The three ordinances permit trade outside agricultural produce market committees (APMCs), ease restrictions under the Essential Commodities Act and facilitate contract farming. “Kursi ya kirsani (power or peasantry)? Let Akali Dal and its president, Sukhbir, make it clear,” Mann said, adding that if the party was with the farming community of Punjab, it would have to reject the post of Union minister and oppose the ordinances passed by the BJP-led coalition, of which SAD is a member. He said people would otherwise presume SAD had deserted farmers for a post. Mann was speaking to media here on Friday, about the stand SAD had taken at the all-party meeting called by Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh on June 24. “By not vehemently opposing the ordinances, SAD has unmasked its anti-farmer face,” Mann added. Mann said SAD was confused, as it would lose the Union minister’s post if it opposed the ordinances and would lose its vote bank if it justified them. Mann, who is MP from Sangrur, said Sukhbir was speaking something else in the all-party meeting and something else outside. “It seems Sukhbir is in favour of corporate houses taking over agriculture in Punjab. He might want a partnership with them. Earlier too, SAD supported CAA and then the land acquisition bill. He said AAP would start burning effigies of SAD and its president in every assembly segment from Monday. Mann said he would bring in a private member’s bill against the ordinances in Parliament.

The Times of India

2020-06-27

Amritsar