New Delhi [India], March 20: After the Punjab Police forcefully removed protesting farmers from the Punjab-Haryana Shambhu Border, Congress leader Supriya Shrinate launched a scathing attack on Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, accusing him of betraying the farming community.
“AAP showed its true character yesterday. We should not forget that Arvind Kejriwal’s Delhi government was the first to pass the three black laws. It is unbelievable that a party that calls itself a movement-born party would suppress the farmers’ movement in this manner. Punjab will definitely take revenge for this backstabbing,” Shrinate told ANI.
Political Reactions Intensify
Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, Pratap Singh Bajwa, echoed similar sentiments, alleging collusion between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
“This was expected from Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann. Why did they betray the farmers? On one hand, they called the farmers for a meeting, and then they detained them. BJP and AAP are two sides of the same coin. The Haryana government has also started clearing the borders. They want to ensure that Sanjeev Arora wins the Ludhiana West bye-election so that Arvind Kejriwal can become a Rajya Sabha member,” Bajwa alleged.
Earlier on Thursday, farmers under the banners of the All India Kisan Sabha and Bharatiya Kisan Union staged a protest march towards Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini’s residence in Karnal.
Police Crackdown on Farmers
On Wednesday, Punjab Police dismantled temporary structures at the Shambhu Border and detained several farmer leaders, including Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who was on an indefinite fast, and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha leader Sarwan Singh Pandher.
Punjab Government Justifies Action
Punjab Minister Harpal Singh Cheema defended the government’s actions, stating that the protests were impacting business and employment opportunities in the state.
“The AAP government and the people of Punjab supported the farmers against the three black laws. But their current demands are against the Central government. The Shambhu and Khanauri borders have been blocked for over a year, affecting traders and youth employment. The youth need jobs, not roadblocks,” Cheema said.
He further urged farmers to take their protest to Delhi instead of disrupting Punjab’s economy.