Ropar (Punjab) [India], March 5: The Samyukt Kisan Morcha’s (SKM) protest march towards Chandigarh was met with tight security as Punjab Police took measures to prevent protestors from reaching the city, according to DIG Ropar Range Harcharan Singh Bhullar.
“Punjab is totally peaceful. Wherever the farmers have come, police in that area have stopped them there. They are sitting peacefully at the side. Traffic is normal across Punjab… They will not be allowed to reach Chandigarh at any cost. We have tight security… A few people have been rounded up… There is good coordination between Punjab and Chandigarh Police,” Bhullar said.
Earlier on Wednesday, farmers gathered at the Golden Gate in Amritsar to protest against the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government. DSP Maninder Singh Pal confirmed that all necessary security arrangements had been made for the protest.
“All arrangements are in place. Force has been deployed. We are alert. Farmers are here. Protest will be done here (at Golden Gate),” Pal stated.
Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher told ANI that the protestors planned to burn effigies of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in multiple districts across the state as part of their demonstration. Pandher also demanded the release of farmers who were allegedly detained by the Punjab Police.
“We will have programs in around 18 districts. At 21 locations in Amritsar alone, we will burn effigies of the Bhagwant Mann government. Today’s program will be done at hundreds of locations across Punjab. SKM’s Punjab Union’s leader was detained along with the leadership of Kisan Majdoor Morcha. So, today’s program is against the human rights violations of farmers. It will be done peacefully. We demand that all arrested farmers should be released,” Pandher said.
Further criticizing the Punjab government, Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee leader Gurbachan Singh Chhaba condemned the handling of the farmers’ protest by the Bhagwant Mann-led government. He said, “Bhagwant Mann Government in Punjab left the meeting with farmers. We have seen such a CM for the first time, someone who leaves a meeting with farmers midway…someone who gets the houses of farmer leaders raided, detained them at their houses, and arrested some others. Bhagwant Mann Government is playing into the hands of the Centre to violate the human rights of farmers. People will never accept this.”
Chhaba also expressed his dissatisfaction with the government’s treatment of peaceful protests, stating, “We will burn the effigy of Bhagwant Mann. We will demand that farmers be allowed to protest and their demand be met. Our demands are not unlawful… We condemn this govt. Our protest is always peaceful…Bhagwant Mann is instigating people…This is bad.”