Opposition events in Punjab Tuesday condemned the detention of a number of farm union leaders by the Punjab Police forward of their week-long protests, and hit out at Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for “pure dictatorship” as they demanded their launch.
The Punjab chapter of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), a coalition of 37 farmers’ unions, has deliberate protests and a ‘Chandigarh Chalo’ march from Wednesday to press for his or her 18-point constitution of calls for, together with minimal help costs or MSPs to possession rights.
Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leaders have been unanimous in hitting out at Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for strolling out of the assembly with SKM leaders Monday night in Chandigarh after which ordering the Punjab Police to detain the farmers leaders forward of their agitation.
Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring mentioned the state’s farmers aren’t opponents of the chief minister however are the spine of the financial system. In a social media publish on X, Warring additionally accused Mann of ignoring the farmers and weakening Punjab’s future.
“When farmers prosper, Punjab thrives—our markets flourish, small shopkeepers earn, and each family advantages. But, for over a 12 months, they’ve been protesting, and one chief has even put his life at stake. The least you could possibly do is hear. If they’ll’t speak to their very own CM, the place will they go? Ignoring them weakens Punjab’s future. As a substitute of addressing their issues, why are you arresting farmers? Is that this the way you deal with those that feed the nation? Discuss to the farmers—respect their battle!” he mentioned.
Referring to the assembly of the Punjab CM with SKM leaders Monday night, Chief of Opposition Partap Bajwa mentioned Bhagwant Mann exhibited ‘completely smug and aggressive behaviour’. “As a substitute of paying heed to farmers’s points and reaching a consensus, CM all of the sudden left the assembly inconclusive. This isn’t the primary time, CM Mann has behaved nastily. He has apparently bought drunk with energy and the folks of Punjab will definitely train him a lesson,” he mentioned.
Bajwa additionally strongly condemned Mann for strolling out of the assembly. “Thereafter he has let unfastened a reign of terror on farmer leaders throughout Punjab resorting to midnight raids and arrests of various leaders,” he mentioned.
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Addressing AAP nationwide convenor Arvind Kejriwal, Bajwa mentioned Bhagwant Mann wants Vipassana and yoga greater than Kejriwal. “Farmers are protesting for his or her reliable calls for, as a substitute of arresting farmers, take motion in opposition to corrupt ministers, MLAs and officers…. I demand the rapid launch of the farmer leaders,” he mentioned.
Congress MLA Pargat Singh additionally criticised Mann for his actions. “Chief minister first invitations farmers for talks, then misbehaves, runs away from the assembly, and later incites hatred in opposition to them by tweets! Now, he’s ordering their arrests—that is pure dictatorship. This isn’t simply an insult to Punjab’s farmers however a transparent execution of BJP’s divisive agenda within the state. Punjab gained’t tolerate this,” he mentioned on X.
Accusing the AAP Authorities of turning Punjab right into a police state, Congress MLA Sukhpal Khaira mentioned the arrest of farmers leaders means folks of Punjab have now misplaced their proper to peaceable protest.
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) additionally hit out at Mann for the farmers’ detention.
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SAD former President Sukhbir Singh Badal mentioned, “Such dictatorial strategies can by no means stifle the voice of the Annadata. The Akali Dal expresses solidarity with the protesting farmers and their trigger and can do its utmost to make sure all their calls for are accepted by this corrupt and smug AAP authorities”.
Senior SAD chief Bikram Singh Majithia demanded that the farmers must be launched instantly and Bhagwant Mann ought to apologise for his or her mistreatment and unlawful arrest.
