Ahead of their planned protest in Chandigarh on March 5, several Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) leaders were detained in early morning raids at their residences on Tuesday and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann denounced the protesting farmer unions, saying they have turned Punjab into a "state of dharnas" and caused huge losses to it.
Speaking to reporters in the Kharar tehsil office in Mohali, Mann said he had categorically told the farmer bodies that they should not remain under the impression that he could not take action.
Farmer leaders and opposition parties criticised the AAP government for the crackdown, which came a day after talks between Chief Minister Mann and SKM leaders ended abruptly with the CM walking out of their meeting.
"The government cannot stifle the voice of farmers with such steps," Bharti Kisan Union (Lakhowal) general secretary Harinder Singh Lakhowal.
Replying to a question on his meeting with farmer leaders, Mann said, “I told them yesterday that every day you hold rail roko protests and block roads that cause huge losses to Punjab economically and Punjab is becoming a state of dharnas.” “There is a fight to take credit among various farmers’ unions which are trying to create anarchy by running a parallel government,” said Mann.
He reiterated that the government is always ready to resolve issues pertaining to various sections of society through negotiations but inconvenience to the common people through rail or road blockades cannot be permitted.
In a statement, the SKM claimed the police took several leaders into custody including Balbir Singh Rajewal, Ruldu Singh Mansa, Gurmeet Singh Bhatiwal, Nachhttar Singh Jaiton, Veerpal Singh Dhillon, Binder Singh Golewal, Gurnam Bhikhi and Harmesh Singh dhesi.
“Police raids have been carried on at the houses of farmer leaders including Joginder Singh Ugrahan, Raminder Singh Patiala, Buta Singh Burjgill, Harinder Singh Lokhowal, Satnam Singh Ajnala, Gurmeet Singh Mehma and Rajinder Singh Deep Singh Wala,” said the SKM.
In Ludhiana, SKM leaders including Harjit Singh Giaspura, Balwant Singh Khirnia, Avtar Singh Mahlo, Manmohan Singh Deol and Dilbag Singh were allegedly detained.
Several farmer leaders have gone "underground" while many have been put under house arrest, according to SKM members.
Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner Police Jaskaran Singh Teja said six farmer leaders were "detained".
Meanwhile, farmer leaders called upon the protesters to head towards Chandigarh as part of the SKM's call for a week-long 'dharna' at the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana.
The SKM, which had led the 2020 agitation against the now-repealed three farm laws, is demanding the withdrawal of the Centre's draft of the National Policy Framework on Agricultural Marketing, a legal guarantee on minimum support price as per the Swaminathan Commission report, implementing the state's agricultural policy and purchase of six crops at MSP by the state government.
Lakhowal claimed that the Punjab police conducted "raids" at the residences of SKM leaders early this morning. He said police personnel are also deployed at his residence.
"We are fighting in support of various farmers' demands. It is our right to hold protests. We warn the state government not to indulge in such police actions," Lakhowal said as he called upon farmers to reach Chandigarh in large numbers.
In Hoshiarpur, Doaba Kisan Committee president Jangveer Singh Chauhan alleged that at around 4:30 am, he was taken to the police station from his residence in Rasulpur village.
Later, his supporters reached the police station and compelled the authorities to release him. He claimed that he had been placed under "house arrest", with at least three police personnel still deployed outside his house.
"We had no intention of blocking traffic or disrupting any office work; it is merely a protest in Chandigarh to express our resentment. However, instead of granting us a site, the government scheduled a meeting with us.
"During the meeting, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann walked out, and subsequently, police action was initiated against farmer leaders. This is highly condemnable and clearly an attempt to suppress our planned protest in Chandigarh tomorrow," Chauhan alleged.
SKM leader Raminder Singh Patiala said the police conducted a "raid" at his residence also.
He said a scheduled meeting of the SKM that was to take place in Ludhiana on Tuesday has been suspended.
He said farmers have resolved to head towards Chandigarh on Wednesday. If the police stop them, they should sit there, he said.
Several political leaders condemned the AAP government for police action against farmer leaders.
In a post on X, Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal said, "Today early morning the police started raiding residences of Kisan leaders and has detained many of them in a crude attempt to foil the March 5 Andolan of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha. Such dictatorial methods can never stifle the voice of the Annadata.
"The @Akali_Dal_ expresses solidarity with the protesting farmers & their cause and will do its utmost to ensure all their demands are accepted by this corrupt & arrogant @AAPPunjab govt." Senior Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa lashed out at the state government for the police action. "Farmers are protesting for the acceptance of their rightful demands. Instead of arresting farmers, take action against corrupt ministers, MLAs, and officers'¦. I demand the immediate release of farmer leaders," said Bajwa.
Talks between the Punjab government and SKM leaders to discuss farmers' demands broke down midway on Monday, with farmer leaders claiming a "livid" Mann "walked out of the meeting in a huff without any provocation".
Mann said his doors are always open for talks but inconvenience and harassment of the public in the name of agitation should be avoided.
The SKM is also demanding a law for debt settlement, ensuring canal water to every field, payment of sugarcane arrears and stopping alleged "forcible" acquisition of land for the Bharatmala projects.
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