New Delhi: Sukhbir Singh Badal, the leader of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Friday alleged that the central government has been using force to maltreat the agitating farmers brutally. For this reason, they decided to boycott the joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament and President Ram Nath Kovind’s address during the joint sitting.
Badal, outside the Parliament, stated to the media persons – “Farmers are protesting for over six months and around 300 have lost their lives. The government did not listen to their demands and are now using force on them to end the movement. This is why all the opposition parties believe that farmers are being oppressed”.
According to the SAD leader, the leaders of the farmers’ unions have discussed these issues with the union minister during multiple sittings, but the result was zero.
The President’s address at the joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament was firmly boycotted by multiple political parties. The list of parties that have boycotted the President’s address in order to show their protest against the three new agriculture laws implemented by the Centre, includes SAD, NCP, Congress, BSP, AITC, DMK, J-K National Conference, RJD, Samajwadi Party, Shiv Sena, CPI, CPI (M), AAP, PDP, RSP, IUML, AIUDF, MDMK, and Kerala Congress (M).
Moreover, some MPs of the Left Parties, on Friday, held a protest march towards the Parliament to support the agitation of the farmers against the new agriculture bills.