Congress Leaders Criticize Farmers' Detentions in Punjab, Demand Right to Protest

New Delhi, March 20 (NationPress) Following the actions of Punjab Police to clear out protesting farmers from their locations near the Shambhu Border with Haryana and the detention of their leaders, Congress representatives strongly criticized the Bhagwant Mann administration, accusing it of betraying the farmers and asserting that if farmers wish to protest, they should be permitted to do so without hindrance.

In an interview with IANS, noted Congress figure Imran Masood expressed his concern about the circumstances, highlighting the distressing crisis confronting India’s agriculture sector.

He pointed out the tragic fact that over 2,600 farmers have taken their own lives in recent years, yet their plight remains largely overlooked by the authorities.

"Farmers nationwide are suffering, their rights are being eroded, and yet the government attempts to distract from these significant issues by fomenting division and animosity," he remarked.

He also brought attention to the plight of farmers in Maharashtra, where even the most esteemed farmers have succumbed to hopelessness, leading to suicides.

"We cannot continue to ignore this crisis," Masood cautioned, indicating that the government’s tactics threaten the nation’s future.

Punjab leader Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa condemned the authorities' actions, labeling the detentions as a blatant breach of trust.

"This is a clear deception," Randhawa stated, stressing that after discussions with the farmers, they were arrested without justification.

"The government has lost trust and displayed dishonesty by apprehending peaceful protesters," he continued, calling the situation a betrayal of public confidence in the system.

Congress spokesperson Gurjeet Singh Aujla added his voice to the criticism, denouncing the arrests as undemocratic.

"How can you detain individuals after inviting them to a meeting? This is not how negotiations function," he emphasized.

He further insisted that even in conflict situations, nations come together for dialogue, yet here, arrests followed peaceful discussions, which he deemed unacceptable.

Aujla asserted that the condition in Punjab had worsened due to the combined failures of the BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

"In merely three years, Punjab’s environment has become toxic - bulldozers are operational, extortion is prevalent, and the state is deteriorating. For years, we have alerted the government in Parliament and the Vidhan Sabha about Punjab’s declining situation, but they have disregarded us. Now, the consequences are evident."

Aujla also questioned the sincerity of Punjab Chief Minister Mann.

"Mann claims to support the farmers, but his actions suggest otherwise. If he genuinely advocates for them, he should permit the detained farmers to proceed to Delhi. They should not be obstructed," Aujla insisted, urging that the detained leaders be allowed to peacefully protest in Delhi at Jantar Mantar, where their voices could resonate.

"If the CM is truly with the farmers, he must ensure they have the opportunity to protest in Delhi without interference," he added.

Conversely, Aam Aadmi Party leader Sandeep Pathak mentioned that while the farmers' demands are valid, their method of protest - obstructing roads and staging sit-ins - is causing more harm than good to local communities.

"We concur with many of the farmers' requests, but blocking roads and creating chaos only impacts local residents, small businesses, and daily travelers. If their grievances lie with the central government, then their protests should be directed there, not within Punjab," Pathak stated.

He also criticized the central government and Congress for leveraging the farmers' protests to advance their political ambitions, destabilizing the region in the process.

"While we recognize that the Central government has not fulfilled the farmers' demands, the pressing question is who can genuinely address these needs? If there is a national consensus, the Central government should take charge and act," Pathak concluded, advocating for a more focused approach to resolving the farmers’ issues.

Approximately 500-700 farmers were detained at the Khanauri border as Punjab Police dismantled protest sites that had existed since February of the prior year. Meanwhile, in neighboring Haryana, bulldozers were utilized to remove barricades that had been erected to prevent farmers from marching towards Delhi.

These rapid actions followed the detention of several prominent leaders involved in the protests, including well-known activists like Jagjit Singh Dallewal and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha leader Sarvan Singh Pandher, both of whom were arrested while leading protests at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders.