Harsimrat Badal faces protests in Mansa

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Mansa, January 3

Former Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal, MP from Bathinda, on Sunday faced protests from farmers during her visit to villages in Budhlada sub-division of Mansa district. 

Farmers staged protests, claiming that the SAD and Harsimrat had supported the contentious farm bills when these were tabled in the Cabinet and now they are doing a drama and befooling the people. 

Facing wrath of farmers, Harsimrat had to cancel her four scheduled programmes in villages. Hundreds of people chanted slogans during her visit and tried to gehrao her convoy. However, the police team led by Budhlada DSP Baljinder Singh Pannu manage to escort Harsimrat’s convoy out of the village. Protesters even showed black flags to her convoy. 

Harsimrat was to pay condolences to the families of slain farmers and deceased members of the party in the villages.  This was her first visit to the area in her constituency after her resignation from the Union Cabinet.  

According to the information, Harsimrat had to meet family members of farmers who died during the agitation at villages Gurddi, Bachhuana, Dharmapura, Bare, Dodra, Boha and Bhadra. At Dodra and Bhadra, locals, including Bhartiya Kisan Union Ekta, Ugrahan, Dakoda and Qadian groups started staging protest against Harsimrat.

She could reach only Bhadra, Dodra and Boha villages. 

Meanwhile, a message was also sent by the family of Piara Singh, a farmer who died during the agitation at Dharampura village, that they have refused to meet Harsimrat Badal. Thus was confirmed by Vasava Singh, a leader of Bhartiya Kisan Union-Dakoda, who is close to the family. 

On the other hand during the visit, Harsimrat Kaur Badal said that today’s protest was a ploy of opposition parties. He challenged Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder and the BJP leader, to clarify her involvement in the agriculture laws. On the other hand, Capt Amarinder Singh, the Finance Minister and their Secretary have agreed to pass the law, she claimed. 

She added that Shiromani Akali Dal was still with the farmers. “I quit the Cabinet, I left the NDA, I left the BJP alliance. Even today I am fighting shoulder to shoulder with the farmers against the Modi government at the Centre.

“I have not signed any of the documents in favour of these laws. I opposed the enactment of the law. I did not listen to one of them. As a result, I resigned from the Cabinet,” Harsimrat said. 

She appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to meet the protesting farmers to recognise their grievances and repeal the agriculture laws. 

Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.