logo
‘What you resist, will persist': Jagjit Dallewal's message to Punjab CM as cops intensify crackdown to thwart farmers' stir

‘What you resist, will persist': Jagjit Dallewal's message to Punjab CM as cops intensify crackdown to thwart farmers' stir

Indian Express06-05-2025

The Punjab Police continued its massive statewide crackdown against farmer leaders for the second day, and protesters under the banner of Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) and Samyukt Kisan Morcha (non-political) were on Tuesday prevented from reaching Shambhu police station for a planned day-long stir. Efforts to thwart the protest call included widespread detentions, roadblocks, and house arrests.
The agitation was announced to condemn the Punjab government's alleged use of excessive force during the March 19–20 clearance of protest sites in Shambu and Khanauri, when the police reportedly dismantled tents, seized equipment, and caused damage worth crores to farmers. The unions have demanded compensation and an apology, terming the crackdown a violation of democratic rights.
On Tuesday morning, Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been under house arrest since Monday, issued a video message, strongly condemning the government's actions. 'We had given a call for a one-day symbolic protest outside Shambhu police station. Yet, the Bhagwant Mann -led government has turned it into chaos by launching a statewide crackdown and arresting farmers,' he said.
'Many of our members who were detained yesterday have been sent to jail now, including Kaka Singh Kotra, general secretary of BKU Sidhupur. This is nothing but state repression, and the government is now pushing us towards launching a new agitation,' Dallewal said, adding, 'Let me remind the CM: what you resist, will persist. You cannot silence our voice through coercion. This is a democracy, not a dictatorship.'
Dallewal also questioned Mann's double standards: 'If protesting is a crime, then what moral ground do you have to stage dharnas in Delhi over the arrest of your leaders Manish Sisodia and Arvind Kejriwal, who are allegedly involved in scams? Your hypocrisy and double talk stand exposed. The people of Punjab must now rise against this high-handedness and undemocratic behaviour with a united face.'
He concluded with a warning: 'Despite all the barricades and arrests, we will not back down. I guarantee the chief minister — people will reach Shambhu police station, no matter what.'
Heavy barricading was seen on all roads leading to the Shambhu border, including routes from Ludhiana, Rajpura, Patiala, Ghanaur, and Ambala. The police deployed tippers, trucks, and used barricades to block farmer convoys.
In Ambala, Haryana-based farmers from Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU-Shaheed Bhagat Singh) gathered at Manji Sahib Gurdwara but were unable to move forward. 'The Punjab police have blocked the roads and the chief minister blames us for creating obstructions,' said Tejveer Singh, spokesperson of the union.
In Moga, members of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC) who had gathered at Ajitwal grain market were also stopped. 'Seven of our senior leaders were detained by the Moga police. The market gate was locked to prevent others from moving out,' said KMSC press secretary Kaka Josan. Among those detained was KMSC district general secretary Ranbir Singh Thatha.
According to farmer leaders, besides Dallewal, dozens of union heads have either been detained or placed under house arrest since early Monday. Those under house arrest since Monday morning include Baldev Singh Sirsa and Harsulinder Singh Kishangarh.
On Monday, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann issued a statement: 'No protest will be allowed that disturbs public life. Road and rail blockades, or any such demonstrations that hinder daily work and trouble common people, will be treated as actions against public interest. All organisations and unions are advised to adopt alternative, peaceful means of protest. Strict legal action will be taken if public movement is obstructed.'
Farmer unions, however, maintained that their protest outside Shambhu police station would be symbolic and was not meant to block any roads or railway lines. 'We only planned to gather outside the police station. The way the government has responded shows it is unwilling to listen to farmers unless there is disruption,' said Sarwan Singh Pandher, coordinator of KMM, on Monday evening. Pandher was unreachable on Tuesday morning as his associates said they did not know if he was detained.
The unions have also announced a rail roko protest at Devidas Pura railway station in Amritsar on Wednesday, targeting the Delhi-Amritsar line, to protest against the alleged illegal acquisition of farmers' land under Bharatmala projects without providing adequate compensation.
The Indian Express attempted to contact Varun Sharma, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Patiala, for a statement regarding the detentions and road closures, but he could not be reached.
As the standoff continues, farmer unions are holding local meetings and mobilising at the village level to keep the momentum going. 'If we are stopped from peaceful protests, we will be forced to adopt stronger means,' said one union leader.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Girl runs away to meet BF, his parents alert her family
Girl runs away to meet BF, his parents alert her family

Time of India

time38 minutes ago

  • Time of India

Girl runs away to meet BF, his parents alert her family

Nagpur: Acting responsibly, an Azamgarh-based family in Uttar Pradesh alerted the parents of a 17-year-old standard X student from Nagpur, who had landed up at their residence after falling in love with their son. The minor girl had befriended the youngster from Azamgarh on a social media platform, and developed a relationship over the last few months ago. Sources said that the Azamgarh youngster had sponsored the minor girl's ticket to take a bus to his hometown on June 4. After she reached Azamgarh, the youngster took her to his home and expressed his desire to marry her. The youngster's family, realising the girl was still a minor, immediately alerted her parents, who were already searching for her. An offence had also been registered at Old Kamptee police station following the family's complaint. Immediately afterwards, the Azamgarh family ensured the girl returned to the city by train on June 6. She was taken into custody by senior inspector Lalita Todase's team of the anti-human trafficking unit of the crime branch. After counselling, the girl was reunited with her family, and accordingly, the Old Kamptee police station was also informed.

Three mule a/c holders held in 3cr matrimonial scam
Three mule a/c holders held in 3cr matrimonial scam

Time of India

time2 hours ago

  • Time of India

Three mule a/c holders held in 3cr matrimonial scam

Pune: Pimpri Chinchwad cybercrime police have arrested three mule bank account holders from New Delhi following an investigation into a complaint of a 45-year-old manager of a private firm in Pimpri Chinchwad, who lost Rs3.16 crore in a matrimonial scam between June 2023 and Sept 2024. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The scam started when the woman, victim in the scam, came into contact with a 'US-based NRI' via a matrimonial website in May 2023. The man told her that he was running a business in Alaska and promised to marry her. They started talking and video-calling. Later, the man started requesting the woman to help him financially and told her that he was suffering losses in business. The woman started transferring money to him. He used to give different reasons including money for regularizing bank account in Dubai, medical treatment, repaying loans, and air-ticket expenditure from Dubai to New Delhi and New Delhi to Venezuela, the police said. At one point, he also asked money from the victim by claiming that he was detained at Istanbul airport in Turkey, police said, adding that the woman kept providing money and eventually transferred Rs3.16 crore between June 2023 and Sept 2024. When she came to realize that she was cheated, the woman suffered depression. It is only after her relative convicsed her to file a complaint in March 2025, she approached the police. Senior inspector Ravikiran Nale of the Pimpri Chinchwad cybercrime police said that two teams, led by assistant inspector Pravin Swami and sub-inspector Sagar Poman, were deployed to investigate. "The teams found that Rs 3.16 crore were transferred to 81 bank accounts and from these accounts, the money went into 400 accounts. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Most of these accounts belonged to different banks in New Delhi," he said. The police investigations also revealed that 11 bank accounts were opened two years ago using a single rent agreement. "Sub-inspector Poman and his team reached New Delhi to trace people who opened these 11 accounts. The team found that the account holders had changed their cellphone numbers. With technical investigation, sub-inspector Poman took Sikandar Khan (21) into custody from Jonapur in Delhi. Khan then revealed names of two more suspects, Ranjit Yadav (27) and his brother Bablu Yadav (25), both from Jonapur. Ranjit Yadav had accepted Rs 36.96 lakh into his account," he said. The arrested people used to contact their handler using a mobile messenger application to avoid tracing. "We have ascertained the identity of their handler and our search is underway to find other suspects in the case," said Nale.

One held for robbing shopkeeper via dating app; Two absconding
One held for robbing shopkeeper via dating app; Two absconding

Time of India

time2 hours ago

  • Time of India

One held for robbing shopkeeper via dating app; Two absconding

Pune: The Faraskhana police on Wednesday arrested a 19-year-old man from Mangalwar Peth and searching for his two accomplices after the trio robbed a shopkeeper (33) after befriending the latter using a dating application. The shopkeeper is a resident of Shagun Chowk on Laxmi Road. He lodged a complaint with the police on Tuesday morning. According to the police, the victim had a dating application and one of the suspects contacted the victim over it. The suspect befriended the victim and asked the latter to visit a secluded spot in the June Bazaar area. "When the victim reached the spot, three accused threatened him of dire consequence and robbed his cellphone around 6.35am on Monday. The three accused, one of them with knife, used UPI application of the victimi and transferred Rs 60,000," said senior inspector Prashant Bhasme of Faraskhana police. "We have arrested Wahid Razzak Shaikh of Mangalwar Peth after analyzing the UPI transaction," he said. Shaikh was produced before a city court and the court remanded him in police custody until June 16, Bhasme said. "Shaikh was earlier arrested by the Bund Garden police in a similar crime where he and his accomplices robbed a Pimpri Chinchwad-based man near RTO Chowk. He was out on bail," he said.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store