India / Don't limit farmers' struggle to 1 religion or community: SAD prez

New Delhi: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Monday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to link the farmers’ movement with any particular religion or community. He said farmers from Uttar Pradesh to Kerala stood united on one platform against the three agriculture marketing laws.

Talking to newspersons here after addressing ward-level meetings in connection with the forthcoming municipal elections, the SAD president appealed to the Prime Minister to talk on the agenda and focus on giving justice to farmers instead of linking the agitation with any particular community.

“We should all be clear that the farmer is fighting for the welfare of the annadaata at large and we should not try to divide this struggle by trying to limit it to one religion or community. This will not serve any purpose except alienating the government among the farming community,” said Sukhbir.

Sukhbir also condemned the state police for not proceeding against Gidderbaha legislator Amrinder Singh Raja Warring even after it was clearly mentioned in the suicide note of contractor Karan Kataria that Raja Warring and his brother-in-law Dimpy Vinayak were both demanding money from the contractor.

He said it was shocking that even after the death of the contractor who shot himself and his family members, the police had not booked Raja Warring in the case. “The SAD will provide all necessary assistance to the victim’s family and ensure justice is done in the matter,” he said, adding Warring would have to face the music for his “sins”.

Condemning the “goondaism unleashed by the Congress” in the constituency, Sukhbir urged SAD workers to be resolute and ensure victory of Akali candidates.

He said even though the law and order situation has completely collapsed and the State Election Commission (SEC) had also abrogated its constitutional duty, the SAD would not be cowed down by such tactics. “We will fact the Congress goons and ensure victory of democracy,” he said, while making it clear that officers who “murdered democracy and its institutions at the instance of the Congress” would be taken to task once the SAD formed a government in the state.

The SAD president also assured the people that the Badal family would continue to serve them. Urging the people to ensure a resounding win in the municipal elections, Sukhbir said, “I am confident you will follow it up with reposing faith in the SAD in the assembly elections. Following this, you can leave the development of the area to me.”