- विज्ञापन -
Chandigarh: Punjab police on Wednesday detained several farmer leaders and removed protesting farmers, temporary structures of farmers at the protesting site at Punjab-Haryana Shambhu Border where hundreds of farmers were sitting on a protest over various demands.
Sources said that police have also removed temporary structures erected by farmers at the protest site.
Several farmer leaders including farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal who is on an indefinite fast and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha leader Sarvan Singh Pandher were detained by the Police.
Reacting to this, Punjab Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that the action was taken as they want to open Shambhu and Khanauri borders.
Speaking to the media, Cheema asserted that the farmers should stage a protest in Delhi or somewhere else as their demands are against the Central government.
“The AAP government and the people of Punjab stood with the farmers when they protested against the three black laws. The demands of the farmers are against the central government. It has been more than a year and the Shambhu and Khanauri borders are closed. The traders, youth of Punjab are very upset. When the traders will do business, the youth will get employment and they will stay away from drugs,” he said.
“Today’s action has been taken because we want the youth of Punjab to get employment. We want to open Shambhu and Khanauri borders. The demands of the farmers are against the central government and they should stage a protest in Delhi or somewhere else but should not block the roads of Punjab,” Harpal Cheema said.
Reacting to this, Congress MP Amarinder Singh Raja Warring said that the Centre and AAP government in Punjab want to isolate the farmers.
“The farmers are being constantly deceived. Farmers were told to end their hunger strike and then we will hold talks with them. The central government always tries to isolate farmers, especially of Punjab. After the meeting between farmers and the central delegation concluded, Punjab Police detained the farmer leaders. The central government and AAP government want to isolate the farmers of Punjab. This is very wrong,” Warring told reporters.
Earlier today, as part of the central government’s outreach to farmers, three Union Ministers and Punjab Cabinet Ministers met with the farmers in Chandigarh amid their protest over several demands.
The next meeting between the government and the farmers has been scheduled for May 4.
After meeting with farmers’ leaders, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan emphasized that the discussion was very positive.
“The meeting took place in a very positive atmosphere and the discussions were very positive. The next date for the meeting is May 4,” Chouhan said.
Notably, due to the long protests of farmers which also led to the Rail roko marches several times have resulted loss of crore of ruppes to Punjab Businessmen community. Hundreds of trains were delayed in these months due to the farmers’ protest which also affected lakhs of commutters.
Pertinent to mention that hundreds of farmers including farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dhaliwal have been on hunger strike on Punjab-Shamnu border since November 26.
