Gal Punjab Di campaign: Sukhbir Badal faces farmers' ire

BATHINDA: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)'s campaign for assembly elections next year yet again hit a roadblock as party president Sukhbir Singh Badal and workers faced a protest by farm activists in Malout on Monday.
Sukhbir had reached the Malout assembly constituency on the third day of his mission as part of his party's election campaign, Gall Punjab Di, under which he is taking a tour of 100 constituencies in 100 days.
Earlier, farmers held protests at a grain market, then at a resort on Fazilka road.
On the insistence of the farmers, Sukhbir Badal met a group of farmers at the resort and answered their queries, though the farmers claimed they were not satisfied by what Sukhbir answered.
Badal had to stay inside the resort as a large number of farmers gathered outside.
He had started the mission on August 18 from Zira with the next day at Guru Har Sahai in the Ferozepur district.
At both places, he was confronted by the farmers.
Farmers Gurjant Singh and Mohinder Singh said that we asked Sukhbir Badal what was the compulsion of Akali Dal for supporting the farm ordinances in the initial stages, from where the resources will come for jobs, why supporting privatization as like thermal plants but the answers were not satisfactory.
Sukhbir later speaking to mediapersons said that he told the farmers it is only Shiromani Akali Dal that supported the farmers in every sphere whereas other parties did not stand by the farmers.
He also said those protesting were sent in by Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party.