Congress Critiques Mann Administration for Detaining Farmer Leaders, Calls It a Betrayal
Click to start listening
Synopsis
On March 20, Leader of Opposition in Punjab, Partap Singh Bajwa, condemned the Bhagwant Mann government for detaining farmer leaders after unsuccessful talks with the Centre. He accused the administration of betrayal and aligning with the BJP, claiming they deceived the farmers into discussions.
Key Takeaways
- Partap Singh Bajwa criticized the Mann government for detaining farmer leaders.
- The detention followed a failed third round of talks with the Centre.
- Bajwa accused the government of betraying Punjab's farmers.
- Internet services were shut down at protest sites.
- Punjab Police cleared protest locations following the detentions.
Chandigarh, March 20 (NationPress) The Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, Partap Singh Bajwa, criticized the government led by Bhagwant Mann on Thursday, claiming it has betrayed farmers by detaining their leaders following the unsuccessful third round of discussions with the Centre. Bajwa expressed his indignation, stating, "Farmer leaders Jagjit Singh Dallewal and Sarwan Singh Pandher were summoned to Chandigarh for talks by the Mann government, but our fears have materialized."
He further asserted, "I have long maintained that AAP and BJP are merely different facets of the same entity. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and his administration have embraced deceit as their hallmark. They enticed the farmer leaders into discussions, only to have them detained by the Punjab Police at the Chandigarh border. I vehemently denounce this act on behalf of the Congress party."
"The people of Punjab are not known for betrayal, yet this government has established a new benchmark. I had cautioned the farmer leaders that Bhagwant Mann was operating under the BJP's directives. I even suggested he might become Punjab's Eknath Shinde, and today, that prediction has been validated," stated the LoP.
"Whether it involves farmers, laborers, entrepreneurs, youth, veterans, or soldiers — whenever citizens express their demands, Bhagwant Mann betrays them," he remarked.
Bajwa accused the Punjab Chief Minister of aligning with the Centre, asserting, "Bhagwant Mann has turned into an agent for the BJP-led government."
The farmer leaders were taken into custody after their meeting with the Centre, which concluded without a decisive agreement. They then proceeded towards the Shambhu border to continue their protests. However, their convoy was halted by the Punjab Police in Mohali, where they were apprehended.
Subsequently, the Punjab Police initiated actions to dismantle protest sites at the Khanauri and Shambhu border locations, where farmers have been protesting against agricultural laws and other grievances. By 9:30 p.m., both locations were entirely cleared.
In a further escalation, internet services were suspended at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders, and bulldozers were utilized to eliminate concrete barriers erected during the protests.
