JALANDHAR: History seems to be repeating itself in several ways as Punjab Assembly passed three bills aimed at countering central farm-bills. Similar sequence of events had happened when Captain Amarinder Singh’s government passed the Punjab Termination of Agreements Act (PTAA) in July 2004 in the state assembly.
At that time also Akali Dal led by Parkash Singh Badal, who was leader of opposition at that time, had supported the PTAA in toto and Badal even accompanied the CM to Punjab governor, but a couple of days later found fault with the bill. Just as Akali Dal and Aam Admi Party found faults on Tuesday after supporting the three farm laws — Farmers Produce Facilitation Act, Farmers Agreement and Farm Services Act and the Essential Commodities Act along with fourth bill for amendment in Civil Procedure Code.
Amarinder’s government had summoned a special session of Punjab Assembly to pass PTAA. At that time Akali Dal had strength of 44 MLAs and house had unanimously passed the Bill. As it happened now that CM and MLAs from all parties took the bill to the Punjab governor, in a show of solidarity over interests of Punjab, at that time also after passing the Act unanimously, Badal and a few other Akali MLAs also accompanied the CM to Punjab governor to request him to give his assent to the bill.
“A few other senior Akali MLAs also joined us when we went to the governor,” said former minister Avtar Henry who was the irrigation minister at that time.
However, a couple of days later Badal senior said Clause 5 of the PTAA was wrong and it should be scraped as this clause ensured that quantum of water flowing to neighbouring states on the day of passing of the PTA Act would not be disturbed. Thus this clause guaranteed that water would keep on flowing to these states. At that time Amarinder had ridiculed him in the same way as he is now taking digs at Akali Dal and AAP for shifting their stand.