Harsimrat resigns from Union Cabinet over farm Bills

Akali Dal's lone minister in the Narendra Modi government, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, on Thursday resigned from the Union Cabinet to protest the farm bills. Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal had earlier on Thursday said in the Lok Sabha that Kaur, who was the Minister for Food Processing, will resign in protest as the government tabled two more farm-sector related bills in the lower house amid widespread protests by farmers in Punjab and Haryana. The SAD had been requesting the Centre not to go ahead with the three agriculture-related bills for approval of Parliament “until all reservations expressed by farmers’ organisations, farmers and farm labourers” are addressed.