New Delhi: Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal, on Thursday, resigned from her post mere hours before the Lok Sabha was to vote on the controversial farm Bills.

Sukhbir Badal, Shiromani Akali Dal chief and husband of Harsimrat Kaur, announced her resignation, while also clarifying that the Akalis will continue to support the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. They will, however, oppose the “anti-farmer politics”.

The Akalis had initially supported the Government’s move, however, changed their stance once they realised that the controversy could potentially damage them in the state. They have also appealed to the Centre not to pause the issue till the farmers’ concerns are addressed.

The farm Bills, which are being touted as an agriculture sector reform by the BJP, have irked the farmers in Punjab and Haryana, who have been staging stirs for the past few weeks.

The Akalis decided to vote against the bills as the BJP remained adamant about them