Akali Leaders Detained Ahead of Moga Meeting Over Canal Water Issue

June 29, 2026

In the village of Bhaloor in Moga, just before Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann’s ‘Lok Milani’ program, the political activity reached its peak when the police detained Youth Akali Dal district president Harjot Singh Demru and dozens of his supporters who were heading towards the venue. Angered by this police action, the top leaders and workers of the Shiromani Akali Dal surrounded the Samalsar police station and staged a protest outside and raised slogans against the Punjab government.

Shiromani Akali Dal leaders said that they were not going to create any ruckus but were going to question Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann peacefully about the serious problem of canal water not reaching Bhaloor Minor (canal) and its tails (last end). The Akali Dal alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party government, pretending to be ‘Lok Milani’, is stopping them on the way on the way and locking them up in the Samalsar police station on the strength of the police.

Farmer leaders and meter readers were also nabbed by the police

Leaders of Akali Dal as well as farmer organisations and meter readers who came to submit a memorandum to their demands were also detained by the police before they could meet the Chief Minister. Angry over these unilateral police action, farmer leaders and meter readers also came together and staged a strong protest against the Punjab government and the Moga police.

Veteran leaders stand outside police station warning to continue protest till release

Hundreds of Akali activists led by Shiromani Akali Dal core committee member Jathedar Tirth Singh Mahala, district president Nihal Singh Bhullar and urban head Khem Pramukh Bharti Patto sat on a dharna outside the Samalsar police station. Launching a scathing attack on the Punjab government, Mahla said that before coming to power, Bhagwant Mann used to say that the public should ask questions to the leaders, but today when the public and the opposition are coming to ask questions, the Chief Minister is hiding his face. “

He warned that his sit-in in front of the police station would continue day and night until all his detained colleagues were released unconditionally.

Violation of democratic rights: Akali Dal

Since this incident, the political atmosphere in the entire region has become extremely heated. The Shiromani Akali Dal termed the action as a violation of democratic rights and an attempt to suppress the legitimate voice of the people. However, there has been no official statement or explanation from the Moga police so far regarding this sensitive development and arrests.