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Time of India
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Cops block farmers, prevent Shambhu sit-in; Dallewal accuses CM Bhagwant Mann of turning Punjab Into A ‘Garrison'
Bathinda: The Punjab Police intensified its crackdown on protesting farmers associated with farm forums Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha for the second consecutive day on Tuesday, preventing them from reaching Shambhu for a sit-in outside the local police station by making detentions and putting senior leaders, including Jagjit Singh Dallewal, under house action comes following a warning by chief minister Bhagwant Mann against any road or rail blockades or protests causing public leading to Shambhu were heavily barricaded, with even loaded tippers being strategically placed to block the movement of protesting crackdown extended beyond Punjab's borders. In Haryana, including Ambala, protesters primarily associated with BKU (Shaheed Bhagat Singh) were prevented from reaching Shambhu. They were stopped at Gurdwara Manji Sahib, with Haryana-based farmer leader Tejveer Singh alleging that "Punjab Police reached the gurdwara in plainclothes and studied their movements".In Punjab's Moga district, at Ajitwal town, activists of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee were also intercepted, with farm leaders stating that some were even taken into farm forums had planned the demonstration to protest the police's recent actions, including the arrest of farmer leaders on March 19 after a meeting with central and state ministers, subsequent demolition of protest sites, and the alleged assault on farmer leader Balwant Singh Behramke on March 20. The farmers had also expressed outrage over the disappearance of their belongings, including tractor trailers, from the protest leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, angered by the arrests and house arrests, released a video message on Tuesday morning strongly condemning the govt's actions. He stated that the farm forums merely intended to voice their concerns regarding the police actions of March accused the Mann-led government of transforming Punjab into a "garrison" and launching a widespread crackdown on farmers. He said that many leaders detained on Monday, including Kaka Singh Kotda, had been sent to jail. Dallewal cautioned Mann that such state repression could incite further asserted that protests cannot be suppressed through coercion, emphasising that increased repression would only lead to greater resistance and that the rising voices of dissent would not tolerate authoritarianism. He questioned the "double standards" of the CM and his party leaders, who themselves have participated in protests in Delhi and Punjab, yet seem unwilling to concede to the farmers' right to to block rail trafficKisan Mazdoor Morcha, expressing anger over the acquisition of farmlands for road projects against the farmers' wishes, announced plans to block rail traffic at Devidaspura near Amritsar starting Wednesday. "We will continue protests and will sit wherever we are stopped and will mobilise people against such high-handedness from the state govt led by a political party which claims to have originated from the protests and struggles," declared farm leaders, adding that numerous activists from the BKU (Ekta Azad) organisation have been detained in Mangwal village near 120924755 413 |
Hindustan Times
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
BKU faction leaders ‘detained' by Punjab Police day ahead of protest, alleges Dallewal
Key activists of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta Sidhupur), including president Jagjit Singh Dallewal, were detained on Tuesday in various districts ahead of the call for a one-day dharna outside Shambhu police station, farmers leaders said. According to the information, union president Dallewal has been asked by the police not to leave his residence in the Faridkot district. A team of police officials reached Dallewal village at around 4 am and asked the veteran farm leader to stay at his house for the next 3-4 days. Police authorities, however, didn't comment on the issue, with the top brass remaining tight-lipped over the action. Several other leaders faced a similar ordeal in different districts of the state, the farmer leaders said. Among those detained are Manjit Singh Rai and Davinder Singh. Official sources said several other leaders are facing police action to ensure that BKU (Sidhupur) cannot mobilise its cadre for tomorrow's agitation. The farmers' body had recently announced to hold a protest outside the Shambhu police station on Tuesday against the state government's alleged use of repressive methods to evict them from their protest morchas in March, and also demanding strict action against those people who stole many of their belongings when they were evicted. Dallewal posted a video on his Facebook page to criticise the police action against the Sidhupur faction. He said the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government is harassing the farmers' rights group, which is fighting for justice. Dallewal said the union activists were scheduled to gather outside the Shambhu police station to highlight the alleged police misconduct and harassment of union volunteers. He said when the dharnas site at Khanauri and Shambhu were forcibly evicted by the police, the volunteers faced police misbehaviour and tractor trolleys and several other items of farmers went missing. 'When our union demanded compensation for missing articles, the state police head ensured that losses would be compensated. The missing things were traced to close associates of AAP leaders and police personnel. Instead of initiating swift action against the culprit, the police started booking individuals who were tracking the missing farmers' articles. Now, when we planned against the police conduct, the government started an attempt to derail our agitation for May 6,' said Dallewal. On March 19, the Punjab Police had cracked down on agitating farmers, detaining their leaders in Mohali when they were returning from a meeting with a central delegation led by agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in Chandigarh. The farmer leaders and some other farmers who were detained were released in subsequent days.
Indian Express
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Today in Politics: Farmers' groups to protest, its senior leaders put under ‘house arrest' a day before
A day ahead of a scheduled protest on Tuesday, the agitating Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) has claimed that its senior leaders, including Jagjit Singh Dallewal who is a key face of the ongoing farmers' movement, were placed under house arrest. With the SKM scheduled to protest outside the Shambhu police station at the Punjab-Haryana border, the farmers' group claimed that multiple leaders across Punjab were either detained or placed under house arrest in a sweeping move that has drawn sharp criticism from various farmer organisations. 'I am still weak and even now, I can barely walk, and yet they have confined me to my home,' Dallewal said, adding that they had announced a day's peaceful protest outside the Shambhu police station, but the government got 'scared' and is not allowing them to gather. The May 6 protest was called against the Punjab government over its alleged use of repressive methods to evict protesting farmers from Shambhu and Khanauri border points in March. The arrests are being seen as a pre-emptive measure by the authorities fearing a large-scale gathering at Shambhu, where farmers' groups had staged a 400-day dharna from February 13, 2024, to March 19, 2025, demanding a legally guaranteed Minimum Support Price (MSP), among other things. That protest was forcibly cleared on March 19 when several top leaders returning from talks with the Centre and the Punjab government were arrested en route from Mohali. In a post on social media, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said: 'Any announcements, protests, or strikes in Punjab that involve blocking roads or railways or cause inconvenience to the general public and disrupt daily life will be considered as acts against the public. All organisations, unions, and groups are advised to take note. There are other ways to express opposition — troubling the people is not right. Otherwise, be prepared for strict legal action.' Meanwhile, amid the dispute over water sharing between the Punjab and Haryana government, the High Court will on Tuesday hear several pleas, including from the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), over the Punjab government allegedly preventing the release of water to Haryana in an 'unconstitutional and illegal' act. The hearing comes days after an all-party meeting in Haryana, led by CM Nayab Singh Saini, condemned the Punjab government's actions. Kharge in Jharkhand With the Congress's 'Save the Constitution' campaign underway in Jharkhand, party national president Mallikarjun Kharge is set to address a rally in the state capital Ranchi on Tuesday. 'During the rally, we will demand a Central legislation to allocate funds for SCs and STs in proportion to their population, and, most importantly, reservations for SCs, STs, and OBCs in both government and private institutions,' Jharkhand Congress in-charge K Raju said. 'Kharge will attend three important events of the state Congress during his day-long stay in Ranchi. He will attend the Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee's Political Affairs Committee meeting for the first time,' a party spokesperson said. The state unit is also expected to make 'several important decisions' at an extended working committee meeting. Party general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal and former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel, along with several ministers and legislators, will also participate in the rally. On Tuesday, the Maharashtra Cabinet is holding a special meeting in the Ahilyanagar district to commemorate the 300th anniversary of famed 18th-century queen Ahilyabai Holkar. 'It will be a full-fledged Council of Ministers meeting which will be attended by all 42 ministers of all three Mahayuti partners, led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CMs Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar,' sources said, as reported by Shubhangi Khapre. The meeting, which will be held at Ahilyabai's birthplace Chondi, is likely to focus on a comprehensive development package, from infrastructure projects to schemes, for Ahilyanagar district with a thrust on the renovation of historical monuments. Though Ahilyabai is highly revered among all castes and communities, present-day Holkars belong to the Dhangar community. The community, numbering at 9% of the state population, is a significant vote bank. In terms of electoral politics, Dhangars play a decisive role in seven to nine Lok Sabha seats and 35 to 40 Assembly constituencies. The BJP has been looking to build a base among the Dhangars since the early 1980s, and several recent government programmes have been directed towards this community.
Time of India
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Ahead of Shambhu stir, Punjab Police place farm leaders under house arrest, detain many
Two days ahead of farm groups' plan to protest at Shambhu police station, Punjab Police on Sunday night swooped down on farm leaders, placing at least four of them under house arrest and detaining several others. Farm groups Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha had announced the protest over cops allegedly assaulting a farm leader on March 19-20. However, on Sunday night and later on Monday morning, personnel of Punjab Police started reaching the houses of senior farm leaders, including Jagjit Singh Dallewal, and placing them under house arrest. The action had the stamp of Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann, who also issued a statement on X over protests that involve blocking roads and railways. "Any announcements, protests, or strikes in Punjab that involve blocking roads or railways or cause inconvenience to the general public and disrupt daily life will be considered acts against the public. All organisations and groups are advised to take note. There are other ways to express opposition, as troubling the people is not right. If violated, they should be prepared for strict legal action. Issued in the interest of the hardworking people of Punjab," said Mann. Commenting on the midnight crackdown on farmers, Dallewal said the action was "unwarranted". "It is no less than a midnight assault on democracy. After a sustained struggle and fast, I am unable to even walk properly, yet I have been confined to my home. We only announced a day-long peaceful protest, but instead of taking action against those from whom stolen items have been recovered, we have been put under house arrest. It is time for people to speak out, or they will silence all our voices," he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Click Here - This Might Save You From Losing Money Expertinspector Click Here Undo Police also reached the residences of Manjit Singh Rai from BKU (Doaba), Sukhwinder Kaur from BKU (Krantikari), and Balwant Singh Behramke, and put them under house arrest. Some others, including Kulwinder Singh Panjola, Hardev Singh Chitti, Gurpreet Singh and Harvinder Singh Masaania, were rounded up and detained at different police stations, stated farm leaders. The action drew sharp criticism from other farmer organisations. Sources in police said the action was taken as they were apprehending a large gathering at Shambhu again. In the past, Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha had, on Feb 13, 2024, started protests at Shambhu and Khanauri borders between Punjab and Haryana to demand a legal guarantee on MSP. Though the farmers had wanted to march to Delhi, their way was blocked by Haryana Police. As the stalemate continued for 13 months and either side refused to budge, Punjab Police removed protesters at the two sites by force on March 19. While these two protests ended, police were accused of misbehaving with farmer leaders, and stealing tractors and belongings of protesters. It was during this confusion that police were accused of a assaulting a farm leader at Shambhu police station. As part of the latest protest, farm groups wanted to protest at the same police station. CM's message elicits another protest call The CM's post on X slamming protesters has elicited another protest call, this time by Kisan Mazdoor Morcha leader Sarvan Singh Pandher. He has now called for disrupting rail traffic at Devidaspura near Amritsar on May 7 and urged other farm organisations to stand up against this highhandedness.
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Business Standard
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Day before protest, several SKM leaders put under 'house arrest' in Punjab
Farmer leaders have claimed that several Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) leaders, including Jagjit Singh Dallewal, were put under house arrest by the Punjab government on Monday, ahead of their scheduled protest outside the Shambhu police station. The May 6 protest was called against the Punjab government over its alleged use of repressive methods to evict protesting farmers from Shambhu and Khanauri border points in March. The farmer leaders claimed that Punjab Police personnel reached their houses early morning to detain them. They said police wanted to prevent them from mobilising people for Tuesday's protest. "Dallewal was put under house arrest at around 4 am at his house in Faridkot district," a farmer leader said. Several other leaders faced a similar ordeal in different districts of the state, the farmer leaders said. Among those detained are Manjit Singh Rai and Davinder Singh. The farmers' body had recently announced to hold a protest outside the Shambhu police station on Tuesday against the state government's alleged use of repressive methods to evict them from their protest morchas in March, and also demanding strict action against those people who stole many of their belongings when they were evicted. Following his alleged house arrest, Dallewal, who had ended his prolonged fast in April, uploaded a video on social media. "I am still weak and even now, I can barely walk, and yet they have confined me to my home," Dallewal said, adding that they had announced a day's peaceful protest outside the Shambhu police station, but the government got "scared" and is not allowing them to gather. In the past, many farmer leaders have alleged that the protesters suffered heavy losses as their trolleys and other belongings were stolen from the Shambhu and Khanauri border points following police action and not all the lost belongings had been recovered. Dallewal said the state police had assured that farmers would be compensated for the loss of their stolen articles, which have not been recovered. "Rather than taking prompt action against the culprits, the police started registering cases against those people who were assisting in tracing the missing articles of farmers... When we called for a protest on May 6, the government got so scared that it decided to not let us gather," Dallewal said. On March 19, the Punjab Police had cracked down on agitating farmers, detaining their leaders in Mohali when they were returning from a meeting with a central delegation led by Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in Chandigarh. The farmer leaders and some other farmers who were detained were released in subsequent days. The meeting was organised to discuss the farmers' demands, which include the MSP guarantee. Punjab Police had also evicted farmers and dismantled temporary structures from the Shambhu and Khanauri border points, where the sit-ins were being held by them for over a year. Dallewal is a senior leader of a joint forum of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM), which had spearheaded the agitation at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points in support of their various demands. Dallewal had begun his indefinite hunger strike on November 26 last year to press the Centre to accept the farmers' demands. He had ended his fast-unto-death in early April after Punjab Police cracked down on agitating farmers.
