Sukhbir Singh Badal To Review Ties With NDA After Harsimrat Kaur's Resignation, 'Ready To Make Sacrifice For Farmers'

The SAD chief said that they will always keep the farmers' interests on priority and will review their ties with NDA over the 3 Farm Bills passed in Lok Sabha.

Akali Dal President Sukhbir Singh Badal/ Image: PTI

New Delhi: Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal's resignation over the 3 Farm Bills comes as a huge jolt to NDA as the oldest ally of the BJP, the Shiromani Akali Dal has decided to review its membership with the ruling party. SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal said on Thursday that it will decide on whether to remain in the ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) or not at a later date. Also Read|Harsimrat Kaur Resigns From Modi 2.0 Cabinet Over Farm Bills, Writes Four-Page Letter To PM; Captain Dubs It As 'Theatrics' The Lok Sabha passed Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020. Another bill related to the farm sector, the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, was passed on Tuesday. These three bills will replace ordinances promulgated by the government earlier. Sukhbir Singh Badal said that the party will always keep the farmers' benefits at priority and will reconsider their ties with the ruling party now. SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal told reporters outside Parliament that his party is ready to make any sacrifice for farmers and their welfare. "The party's future course of action and whether to stay in the NDA or not will be decided in a party meeting later," he said. Kaur's resignation was announced by her husband Sukhbir Singh Badal in Lok Sabha during a discussion over the bills. After an hour Kaur tweeted to confirm her move.  She wrote on Twitter: "I have resigned from Union Cabinet in protest against anti-farmer ordinances and legislation. Proud to stand with farmers as their daughter & sister." She tendered her resignation in a four-page long letter to Prime Minister Modi. She starts the letter with:"In view of the decision of the GOI to go ahead with the bill on the issue of marketing of agricultural produce without addressing and removing the apprehensions of the farmers and the decision of my party, SAD not to be a part of anything, that goes against the interest of the farmers, I find it impossible to continue to perform my duties as a minister of the union council of ministers." "Accordingly, I submit my resignation as minister of food processing industries and request that it may be accepted with immediate effect," she wrote. Also Watch|Will 30-year-old ties between BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal end?