The political rivals of Punjab — the Congress and Akali Dal — slugged it out in full public view and in front of the cameras in New Delhi on Wednesday over the three farm bills passed by the Central government in 2020.

A verbal spat broke out between Shiromani Akali Dal MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Congress lawmaker Ravneet Singh Bittu during which the two accused each other of supporting the bill that is now being strongly opposed by farmers.

Also read: A look back at farm laws and farmers’ protest

In a video shared by ANI, Bittu can be seen accusing Badal of supporting the bill as a member of the Narendra Modi Cabinet. To this Badal retorts, “I had resigned in protest.” Bittu then reminds her that she resigned only after supporting the bills in Cabinet.

Watch the video:

“Ask him where Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi were when the bill was passed. By walking out, they allowed the passing of the the bill,” said Badal, straining to be heard over the din

Also Read | Farmers’ protests will continue for five years: BKU leader Rakesh Tikait

 The Indian agriculture acts of 2020, often referred to as the Farm Bills, are three acts initiated by the Parliament of India in September 2020. The Lok Sabha approved the bills on 17 September 17, 2020 and the Rajya Sabha on September 20. President Ram Nath Kovind gave his nod on September 27, 2020  

The three farm laws have become a big issue in many states, including Punjab that has a sizeable population of people involved in the agriculture sector. The farmers say that the bills are anti-farmer and pro-corporates. They want the bills to be taken back. While the government is willing to discuss the issue, it is not willing to withdraw the bills

Thousands of farmers from across the country have been agitating at three Delhi border points — Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur — against the three farm laws that they claim will do away with the minimum support price system, leaving them at the mercy of big corporations.

Over 10 rounds of talks with the government, which has been projecting the laws at major agricultural reforms, have failed to break the deadlock between the two parties.

A representative group of farmers is currently sitting in protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar and holds ‘Kisan Parliament’ every day, a few metres from Parliament.