Fearing backlash, Akali Dal wants to defer farm ordinances

CHANDIGARH: Fearing backlash, the Akali Dal, an alliance partner with the Central government, has appealed to it not to present the three Central agricultural ordinances for approval in Parliament until all reservations expressed by farmer organisations as well as farmers and farm labourers are duly addressed.

A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the ShiromaniAkali Dal (SAD) core committee, which was presided over by its President SukhbirBadal here. A party statement here on Saturday evening said the core committee felt that it was its responsibility to get the reservations of the "annadata" addressed, and asserted that it was committed to take up all the issues raised by farmers with the Union government.

The committee noted that the SAD leadership led by its President had met farmer organisations, farmer representatives and representatives of "khetmazdoor (farm labourers)" during the last few days. It also held discussions with farm experts to take their views besides taking the view of grassroots party workers as well as the senior party leadership.

The release said a considered view had emerged that the Union government should not rush through with passing the three Central ordinances till the apprehensions conveyed to the SAD were not addressed.

SukhbirBadal conveyed to the core committee that he had also been approached by farmers as well as farm organisations from adjoining states and that all of them had expressed apprehensions about the ordinances and urged the SAD to take up their issues and grievances with the Central leadership.

"Taking this into account, the SAD is also of the view that the concerns should be taken up for consideration by the Centre."

Meanwhile, the core committee felt it was appropriate that the SAD President lead a delegation to discuss the concerns of the farmers with the Central government. (IANS)

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