Bittu’s claim on Akalis’ role in farm laws sparks political row in Punjab
Bureau/ August 17,2025
Union Minister Ravneet Bittu has triggered a fresh controversy, claiming at a BJP rally in Rajpura that the three farm laws were introduced only after Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) assured Prime Minister Narendra Modi of farmers’ consent.
Bittu alleged that then Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal told Modi that Punjab’s farmers had no objections to the laws.
Reacting sharply, SAD spokesperson Arshdeep Kaler termed the statement “laughable,” reminding that the party quit the Union Cabinet and snapped ties with the BJP in protest.
But SAD (new) leader Prof. Prem Singh Chandumajra backed Bittu, saying he personally witnessed the discussions. He added that Harsimrat Kaur Badal endorsed the laws in Cabinet and even pitched them as beneficial to farmers, with Parkash Singh Badal also voicing support at the time.
