Union minister Harsimrat Kaur quits from Cabinet in protest against new farm bills

Protesting against three firm bills tabled in the ongoing monsoon session of the parliament, the union food processing minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal resigned from the cabinet of BJP-led central government.

Taking to Twitter, Harsimrat announced this development, “I have resigned from Union Cabinet in protest against anti-farmer ordinances and legislation. Proud to stand with farmers as their daughter & sister”.

Earlier, speaking at the parliament on Thursday, Shiromani Akali Dal chief and her husband, Sukhbir Singh Badal announced that his party would continue to support the BJP government, but would continue opposing the ‘anti farmers’ politics.

Harsimrat was seen walking out of the house in protest of the bill tabled in the parliament for discussion. These bills include Farmers Empowerment and Protection Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Service Bill, 2020 and Farmers’ Producer Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation Bill, 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill.

The farmers of Haryana and Punjab have been holding a series of protests opposing the bill proposed by the centre, which also claimed it to be a revolutionary for the farmers across the country.

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Harsimrat who was also present in the parliament walked out of the house and went to the office of the Prime Minister to submit her resignation, which she had brought with her in protest of the bills tabled in the parliament.

Earlier, Congress MP Ravneet Singh Bittu had questioned Harsimrat for not speaking against the bill and also asked her to resign from the present cabinet.

The Congress government in Punjab and ruling BJP’s ally Jananayak Janata Party (JJP) also opposed the bill and expressed their concern over the decision of amending the farmers law.

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