Farm bills can have disastrous implications for national economy: Sukhbir Badal

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh/Jalandhar, September 27

Sukhbir Singh Badal on Sunday called upon all political parties and organisations to close ranks for a united fight to protect the interests of the farmers, farm labour and farm produce traders in the country, especially in Punjab.

“We are ready to join or follow any struggle in the overall interests of the farmers, farm labour, Arhtiyas and other farm produce traders,” the SAD president said.

SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal, who made his first public speech after the party broke alliance with the BJP-led NDA last night, said the country needed to understand and empathise with farmers and farm labour in view of the pathetic conditions in which they are living.

“Anything like the new farm bills of the Government of India, which increases the uncertainty over the fate of the farmers’ produce, can have disastrous implications not only for the economy but also for social stability in the country. Farmers’ economic plight affects the entire economy. Therefore, what we are fighting for is to protect the country’s wider national interests.”

Sukhbir Badal also reiterated his party’s firm commitment to preserving peace, communal harmony and fraternity in Punjab at all costs. “We must not flinch from the ideals of keeping our struggle for people’s rights absolutely peaceful and democratic.  I must caution against attempts to defame our struggle by disturbing peace but that should only strengthen our resolve to safeguard the age-old values of Punjabi fraternity and the path of peaceful democratic struggle,” said Badal.

The SAD president was addressing large enthusiastic gatherings of party workers and farmers at Ropar, Hoshiarpur and Phagwara today.