Punjab: political attack & counter attack

In Punjab, amid farmers' agitation, war of words are going on between CM Amrinder Singh and the Akali leaders, especially the Badal family. Chief Minister Amarinder Singh attack former Union minister, Shiromani Akali Dal's Harsimrat Kaur Badal, over the contentious farm laws passed by the Centre recently. "Is she illiterate that she can't read?" Singh said in a statement, pointing out that Ms Badal, who resigned when outrage against the laws mounted, was part of the union cabinet when they were passed.

Singh also attacked SAD president Parkash Singh Badal. "All his life Parkash Singh Badal has been claiming that he represents the interests of the farmers. Then why did his party support the central Ordinances after initially opposing them, and then did an about-turn and started publicly criticising the legislations? "I don't know why Prakash Singh Badal got the Padma Bhushan in the first place," Mr Singh quipped.

Ms Badal, in a counterattack, corrected the Chief Minister, saying Mr Badal had won the Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian award, not the third highest Padma Bhushan.  

Call me illiterate if that floats your boat @capt_amarinder,but I'm amused that u despite being so 'literate' don't know the diff between #PadmaBhushan & #PadmaVibhushan.Never mind! But calling our peacefully protesting Annadata a 'threat to national security' is highly shameful.

— Harsimrat Kaur Badal (@HarsimratBadal_) December 4, 2020