‘Political decision’: BJP plays down Harsimrat Kaur’s resignation amid rift with Akali Dal

Chandigarh, Sep 18: Punjab BJP chief Ashwani Sharma on Friday dubbed the resignation of Harsimrat Kaur Badal from the Union cabinet as the "political decision" of the Shiromani Akali Dal and asserted that it was a part of the National Democratic Alliance.

Food Processing Industries Minister Badal had resigned on Thursday in protest against three farm sector bills.

Speaking to media personnel, Sharma said the three bills brought by the BJP-led Centre were in the interest of the farming community.

"Akali Dal is a part of the NDA but it is a separate political outfit. They have taken this decision because of some political reasons. We have an alliance (SAD-BJP) but both are different political outfits. They (SAD) have taken a political decision," said Sharma.

On continuation of alliance between both the parties, Sharma said the Akalis had themselves said they were part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal had said in Delhi on Thursday that his party's future course of action and whether to stay in the BJP-led alliance or not would be decided in a party meeting later.

Sharma said these three bills would "surely play an important role in boosting farm income".

The Punjab BJP president said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured that the minimum support price and government procurement of crops would continue.

Taking on the Congress, Sharma said the ruling party in Punjab was trying to "mislead" farmers over the farm bills issue in order to "divert attention from the burning issues like liquor mafia, scholarship scam, corruption and failure to keep its poll promises".