Harsimrat Badal’s election meetings face protests in Moga

Kulwinder Sandhu
Tribune News Service
Moga, October 22

Protests met former union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Friday as she made her way to Langeana village near Baghapurana town in Moga for a meeting with party workers.

Several farmers held protests against Badal after Samyukt Kisan Morcha’s call last month asking all political parties in Punjab to hold back their election campaigns. Their call came after a clash with Punjab Police in Moga district left several farmers wounded on September 2. The clash occurred during Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Badal’s rally.

Harsmirat Kaur Badal, who’s a Member of Parliament from Bathinda; held public meetings at Maharaja Palace; met local businessmen, self-help groups, non-government organizations, and activists of the Balmiki community in the city; met representatives of backward classes at Nihalsinghwala town; held another meeting with local residents at Vikraj Palace in Nihalsinghwala town and met party workers at DM Marriage Palace at Langeana village near Baghapurana town.

It was in her final destination that farmers gathered to protest against her. Several farmers have been accusing her of doing little when the central government passed the controversial agriculture laws last year.

Harsmirat Kaur Badal, who was previously the Minister for Food Processing, quit the cabinet over the laws. The decision also resulted in SAD breaking up with the Bharatiya Janata Party, an old ally at the Centre as well as in Punjab.   

“We won’t allow political parties to hold election meetings,” a farmer, Jasmel Singh, said at the protest. “We won’t support those who don’t support us.”

Meanwhile, Kirti Kisan Union and BKU (Ekta) said farmer unions will hold discussions on whether they should boycott two of SAD’s candidates—Tirath Singh Mahla and Barjinder Singh Brar—during next year’s assembly elections after Harsimrat Kaur Badal campaigned for them.