Punjab: Opposition alleges that Mann government stabbed farmers in the back

Punjab: Opposition parties today accused Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of backstabbing farmer leaders Jagjit Singh Dallewal and Sarwan Singh Pandher. Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Bittu said the detention of farmer leaders, who were returning after holding meetings with Union ministers Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Piyush Goyal, was highly condemnable. Accusing CM Mann of hatching a conspiracy against farmers, Bittu said the action was taken to appease urban voters in view of the Ludhiana (West) bypoll. He said AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal was trying to create an urban-rural divide in Punjab but he would not succeed. Condemning the detention of farmer leaders by Punjab Police, state Congress Committee president Amarinder Singh Raja Waring said the Mann government had backstabbed farmers. He alleged the farmer leaders were detained to divert attention from outrage over the brutal treatment meted out to the colonel and his son by police personnel.

Waring said, “When the talks between the farmer leaders and the central representatives are progressing well, there is no logic in detaining them.” Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa said CM Mann was adopting a policy of deceit to suppress the farmers in connivance with the BJP. He said Punjabis should show AAP its place as the party has been exposed. Former CM and Jalandhar MP Charanjit Singh Channi said the farmers were detained after CM Mann met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi today. He claimed that a heavy contingent of police and paramilitary forces has been called in to suppress the farmers’ agitation. Congress MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said, “God is watching the atrocities AAP is committing on farmers. CM Mann has become blind in the arrogance of power.” Former SAD president Sukhbir Badal said, “Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who promised to give MSP, is oppressing the farmers. The detained farmer leaders should be released as soon as possible.” Senior SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia said, “Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is trying to suppress the voice of the farmers.”