The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), the ruling BJP’s oldest ally, on Saturday quit the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) over the farm bills issue. SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal announced the decision to snap ties with the NDA on Saturday night after a marathon meeting that lasted for nearly three hours.
The decision comes at a time amid stepped up agitation by farmers in Punjab over the three legislations which were recently passed by Parliament amid Opposition protests.
“The highest decision-making body of the Shiromani Akali Dal core committee at its emergency meeting here tonight decided unanimously to pull out of the BJP-led NDA alliance,” he said, adding the the government did not listen to the Akalis on honouring the sentiments of farmers.
The SAD wanted the government to incorporate the sentiments of Punjab’s farmers in the bills, “but sorry to say that they…