Parkash Singh Badal

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 3

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) patriarch Parkash Singh Badal today wrote to President Ram Nath Kovind, saying he was returning the Padma Vibhushan Award in protest against the “betrayal of the farmers” by the Government of India. “I am returning the award due to the shocking indifference and contempt with which the government is treating the ongoing peaceful and democratic agitation of the farmers against the three farm Acts,” he wrote.

Parkash Singh Badal, SAD

Betrayal by government

I am returning my award in protest against the betrayal of farmers by the GoI.

Social activist Medha Patkar called it a slap on the face of the Modi government.

In a separate announcement, SAD-Democratic president and Rajya Sabha MP Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa said he was returning the Padma Bhushan conferred on him last year. Dhindsa, who recently quit the SAD, was hitherto seen close to the BJP.

SS Dhindsa, MP

Stand by farmers

We too are sons of farmers. We stand shoulder to shoulder with protesting farmers.

Pradesh Congress chief Sunil Jakhar hailed Badal’s decision to return the award, but said it had come “too late” as the farmers had been protesting for two months now. He asked the Centre to give in to the farmers’ “genuine” demands and repeal the “black” farm laws.

Dhindsa’s son and former Punjab Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa has, meanwhile, given a call to all political parties to back the country’s ‘annadatas’.