Chandigarh/July 2 – Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal urged the union government to address farmers’ grievances through mutual discussion and fulfill its promise of giving them representation in the MSP Committee. She also called for opening the Wagah and Hussainiwal borders for trade with Pakistan and Central Asia, along with instituting an industrial package for Punjab’s border areas.

Addressing Farmers’ Grievances and Borders Trade

In her parliamentary address on the President’s speech, Badal passionately demanded Chandigarh’s immediate transfer to Punjab, citing the state’s lack of control over its capital. She criticized efforts to undermine Punjab’s authority, including unequal officer postings, central rule imposition, and discrimination against Punjabi in official functions.

Highlighting Shiromani Akali Dal’s efforts to protect Punjab’s river waters, Badal stressed the state should not face injustice. She reminded the government of its commitment during Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s 550th birth anniversary celebrations to release all Bandi Singhs. Badal expressed disappointment over the government’s contradictory court statements and demands for apologies from Sikh detainees.

Badal also condemned the recent incident in Rajasthan, where Sikh women were forced to remove their articles of faith (Kakaar) at an examination center, highlighting ongoing discrimination against them.

Addressing Farmers’ Grievances and Borders Trade

Addressing farmers’ grievances, Harsimrat Badal noted that the government had promised to consider all their demands sympathetically when they lifted the Kisan Andolan at Delhi’s borders.

The committee was supposed to formalize MSP into a legal entity, but this has not happened. Instead, the Haryana Police tear-gassed the farmers, resulting in the tragic death of one farmer as they attempted to proceed to Delhi to remind the central government of its promises.

Badal also urged for a special industrial package for Punjab, highlighting the state’s significant losses when neighboring hill states received tax concessions to enhance industrial development.

While resulting in shifting of a section of Punjab industry to the hill States it has also resulted in unemployment. An industrial package is the need of the hour, especially in the border belt”.

She also called for opening of the Wagah and Hussainiwala borders for trade with Pakistan and Central Asian countries. “This is much needed to rejuvenate the economy of the border belt”.

Badal emphasized controlling the drug menace, particularly stopping drug smuggling via drones across the Punjab border. She urged the central government to refrain from interfering in Sikh affairs, criticizing the Congress for attacking Sri Darbar Sahib and accusing the current government of managing Sikh shrines like Sri Hazur Sahib in Nanded and the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee.  She also criticized the division of the Shiromani Committee to form a separate gurdwara committee for Haryana.

Badal further called for reducing police powers under new criminal laws, warning of potential emergency-like situations if not curtailed. She also highlighted the denial of Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh’s oath-taking.