Post protests, SAD makes U-turn on ordinances in Punjab

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 12

Amid widespread protests by farm organisations, BJP ally Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today urged the Centre not to enact laws incorporating the provisions of the three farm ordinances during the monsoon session of Parliament that begins on September 14.

The SAD core committee said the Centre must legislate only after apprehensions of the farmers were duly addressed.

Sources said there was opposition within the SAD on the support given to the ordinances by the leadership. The SAD core committee took the decision today in what is being seen as a climbdown by the party on the issue. Besides farm organisations, the Congress and AAP were also against the ordinances. The Akalis were under pressure to take a stand in favour of farmers on the issue.

Notably, the Akalis had earlier given statements in favour of the ordinances and even said it was beneficial to farmers.

The Congress government had passed a resolution in the Vidhan Sabha against the ordinances, putting the SAD on the back foot. Sources said a section of leaders within the SAD were against the ordinances from the beginning.

A press release said the SAD core committee felt that it was its responsibility to get the reservations of farmers on the MSP system addressed and asserted that it was committed to take up all issues raised by them with the Union Government. The committee noted that the SAD leadership had met farm organisations, farmer representatives and representatives of the ‘khet mazdoor’ unions during the past few days. “It also held discussions with farm experts to take their views besides taking the view of grass-roots level party workers as well as the senior party leadership,” the statement said. A considered view had emerged that the Centre should not rush through with the passing of the three Central ordinances till apprehensions conveyed to the SAD were not addressed.

Sukhbir told to the core committee that he had also been approached by farmers from adjoining states and all of them had expressed apprehensions about the ordinances. “Taking this into account, the SAD is also of the view that the concerns should be taken up for consideration by the Centre,” he said.

Meanwhile, the core committee felt it was appropriate that the SAD president led a delegation to the Central government to discuss the concerns of farmers. The delegation will hold meetings with the Union Government as well as other parties to address the apprehensions of farmers in the coming days.

The core committee also passed a resolution that it would never compromise on the interests of farmers. “Farmers are the life and blood of our party. No sacrifice is too big to ensure the future of our farmers is safeguarded,” the SAD president told members of the core committee.

Sukhbir to lead delegation

The SAD core committee said it was appropriate that the SAD president led a delegation to the Central government to discuss the concerns of farmers. The delegation would hold meetings with the Union Government as well as other parties to address the apprehensions of farmers in the coming days. The core committee also passed a resolution that it would never compromise with the interests of farmers.

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