Opposition Parties Criticise Punjab Government's Detention of Farmer Leaders as Cowardly Act

Opposition parties criticised the detention of farmer leaders Sarwan Singh Pandher and Jagjit Singh Dallewal, labelling it a cowardly act by the AAP-led Punjab government. The Punjab Police detained these leaders in Mohali after a meeting with a central delegation. This occurred as police cleared roads blocked for over a year by evicting farmers from Shambhu and Khanauri protest sites.

Senior Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa expressed outrage, stating that arresting leaders under the guise of a meeting is unprecedented in Punjab's history. He emphasised that such actions are not part of Punjab's traditions. Bajwa accused Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of betraying the farming community, asserting that Punjabis would neither forget nor forgive this act.

Political Leaders React to Detentions

BJP leader and Union minister Ravneet Singh Bittu accused the AAP government of attempting to sabotage negotiations between the Centre and farmers. He expressed shock over the police action against farmer leaders, suggesting it was intended to disrupt talks. Bittu claimed that Chief Minister Mann had betrayed farmers and alleged Arvind Kejriwal's involvement in a conspiracy against them.

Bajwa further alleged that CM Mann acted on instructions from the BJP-led Centre, describing him as a puppet for the central government. He reiterated his belief that AAP and BJP are two sides of the same coin, accusing AAP of pursuing sordid agendas in Punjab.

Demands for Immediate Release

Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring condemned both the BJP at the Centre and AAP in Punjab for betraying farmers. He questioned why arrests were made during ongoing negotiations between central representatives and farmers. Warring demanded the immediate release of detained farmer leaders and urged the Punjab government to accept their demands.

Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal and Harsimrat Kaur Badal also condemned the police action, calling for the release of detained farmer leaders. They joined other opposition voices in criticising both governments for their handling of farmer issues.

Widespread Condemnation

Senior Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala accused both BJP and AAP governments of betraying farmers by arresting them after inviting them for talks on MSP guarantees. He stated that 62 crore farmers across India would never forgive this betrayal, highlighting widespread condemnation from various political quarters.

The incident has sparked significant political backlash, with opposition parties uniting in their criticism of the Punjab government's actions. The detentions have raised questions about the state's commitment to addressing farmers' concerns through dialogue.