Congress, Centre playing fixed match, alleges SAD

Chandigarh, April 5

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today held dharnas in all constituencies of the state, alleging a fixed match was being played by Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh with the Centre to the detriment of the farming community. The party also also alleged betrayal by AAP by giving its assent to the Essential Commodities Amendment Act in the Standing Committee on Food and Consumer Affairs.

Former Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal led the dharna in Bathinda and former minister Bikram Singh Majithia in Majitha. Likewise, senior SAD leaders led protests across the state.

They alleged Capt Amarinder was playing a fixed match with the central government and only pretending to support the farmers. They claimed the CM was part of the committee which finalised the three agricultural ordinances and even amended the APMC Act to include the very provisions of the farm laws against which the farmers were protesting.

Resign for farmers’ sake: Harsimrat to CM

What is stopping Capt Amarinder Singh from resigning to express solidarity with the farmers… the fact is the Congress government is playing a fixed match with the Centre and undermining the interests of the farming community. —Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Bathinda MP

They also said the Chief Minister had agreed to the direct benefit transfer (DBT) scheme which aimed at bypassing arhtiyas. The dharnas also targeted AAP convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. SAD leaders alleged Kejriwal was the first to notify the three agricultural laws and his government had refused to support the Sikh youth who were put in jail under false charges in Delhi.

Akalis also highlighted the hike in domestic power tariff from Rs 5 to Rs 10 a unit and denial of the post-matric scholarship to SC students. — TNS