Chandigarh, Dec 3 (TIWN) Expressing solidarity with the agitating farmers over the Centre's farm laws, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) patron Parkash Singh Badal on Thursday returned his Padma Vibhushan award in protest against "the betrayal of the farmers by the government".

The Akali stalwart had received the country’s second-highest civilian honour in 2015.  The letter further says, “When the government of India had brought the ordinances, assurances were given that the farmers’ apprehensions on these legislations would be addressed to their satisfaction while bringing the relevant Bills and subsequently the Acts.  “Trusting these assurances, I even appealed to the farmers to believe the government’s word. But I was shocked when the government simply went back on its word.”  “That was the most painful and embarrassing moment in my long political career. I just cannot put in words the emotional stress which I have been going through since then. I have truly begun to wonder why has the government of the country become so heartless, so cynical and so ungrateful towards the farmers,” said the former Punjab Chief Minister Badal.