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Indian Express
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘What you resist, will persist': Jagjit Dallewal's message to Punjab CM as cops intensify crackdown to thwart farmers' stir
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.
Indian Express
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Ahead of Tuesday's protest call, a midnight crackdown on Punjab farmers' leaders; Jagjit Singh Dallewal under house arrest
The Punjab Police launched coordinated action against several farmer leaders in the early hours of Monday ahead of Tuesday's protest call given by the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) outside the Shambhu police station. Jagjit Singh Dallewal, a key face of the ongoing farmers' agitation, was among the prominent leaders placed under house arrest at around 4 am at his house in the Dallewal village in the Faridkot district. 'This is a midnight assault on democracy. Even now, I can barely walk, and yet they have confined me to my home. All we had announced was a one-day peaceful protest outside the Shambhu police station. People must now rise and speak out, or they will silence all our voices,' said Dallewal, visibly weak after a recent prolonged hunger strike. The police action was not limited to Dallewal. 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. While leaders like Baldev Singh Sirsa were also confined to their homes, others like Sukhjeet Singh Hardo Jhande, Kulwinder Singh Panjola, Hardev Singh Chitti, Gurpreet Singh Cheena, Shera Athwal, and Harvinder Singh Masaania were taken into custody and lodged at different police stations, including Batala, Ropar, Dorangla, and Sekhwan, said KMM leader Sukhdev Singh Bhojraj. The arrests are being seen as a pre-emptive measure by the authorities fearing a large-scale gathering at Shambhu, where KMM and Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) staged a 36-day dharna from February 13, 2024, to March 19, 2025, demanding, a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) among other things. That protest was forcibly cleared on March 19 when several top leaders were returning from talks with the Centre and the Punjab Government, and were arrested en route from Mohali. Dallewal alleged, 'During the March 19 crackdown at Shambhu and Khanauri borders, the police misbehaved with farmer leaders and displaced tractors, trolleys, and personal belongings. Some items were later recovered from the houses of influential people connected to the ruling government, including a police employee. We demanded action, but nothing was done. Instead, they're now arresting us for demanding justice.' In a fresh escalation, the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC) Sunday night gave a call for a rail roko protest at the Devidaspura Railway Station on the main Amritsar- Delhi line beginning May 7. The protest is against alleged forced land acquisition for the Bharatmala highway project in Amritsar without adequate compensation. KMSC coordinator Sarwan Singh Pandher warned that the protest may spread to more stations from May 8 onwards, including Basti Tenkan Wali at Ferozepur, if the issue remains unresolved. Farmer leaders have urged all like-minded organisations and the public to unite against what they termed the Punjab Government's 'diktat to silence dissent.'
Indian Express
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Punjab farmers' body call for ‘rail roko' on May 7 against ‘illegal, forced' land acquisition
The Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC) has announced a statewide Rail Roko protest on May 7 at Devidas Pura railway station in Amritsar district along the Amritsar–Delhi railway line, to oppose alleged illegal and forceful acquisition of farmland in Punjab without fair compensation. The call has come at a time when the border districts of Punjab are under high security alert and mockdrills of blackouts have begun. Amritsar is a sensitive border disirct having Wagah border. Sarwan Singh Pandher, leader of KMSC said,' the call is of a day and whether to continue it ahead or not depends on the response of administration.' More protest points will be added on May 8 if things are not resolved well in time, warned Pandher. The announcement was made by KMSC's state president Sukhwinder Singh Sabhra, general secretary Rana Ranbir Singh, and leader Sarwan Singh Pandher in a Sunday late evening meeting held at Amritsar. The leaders accused the Punjab government, under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, of turning the state into a 'police state' where land is being acquired under Bharatmala and other central projects across districts including Gurdaspur, Amritsar, and Tarn Taran without following due legal and compensation processes. 'For the past three years, we have led protests at several locations where hundreds of farmers have been denied their fundamental rights. Lands have been seized without fair or timely compensation,' said Pandher. 'In many cases, landowners have not yet received awards, yet authorities are moving in to forcibly acquire their land.' The situation remains tense in villages like Saiduke (Amritsar district), where heavy police deployment was reported as authorities moved to occupy farmland ok Saturday , he told. Farmers, however, reclaimed possession in some areas. 'This high-handed approach, disguised as development, is only helping corporate interests while pushing landowners into distress,' said Sabhra, warning that the state government will have to face consequences if the concerns are not addressed. Preparations for the May 7protest are reportedly underway at a 'war footing' level. The leaders also cautioned that if the government does not respond by May 8, more rail roko protest points, including Basti Tenka Wali in Ferozepur, will be activated. 'The agitation may intensify further across the state,' said Rana Ranbir Singh. The farmers acknowledged the inconvenience the protest may cause to the public but stressed that the issue was a matter of survival for thousands of farming families. 'Our lands, worth crores, are being taken away for free or at throwaway prices. People are willing to lay down their lives rather than give up their land without justice,' the KMSC leaders stated.
Time of India
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Farmers dig in, resist cops as expressway rolls throughFarmers and police scuffle during land acquisition for Delhi-Amritsar-Katra highway in Punjab.
Gurdaspur: Dozens of farmers, including 16 women, were detained and several injured on Saturday during clashes with authorities over land acquisition for the Delhi–Amritsar–Katra expressway, part of the Centre's flagship Bharatmala infrastructure project . Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The protests erupted in Punjab's Gurdaspur and Amritsar districts. Farmer unions have claimed that the detentions followed a police baton charge against the locals who resisted an attempt by the officials to take possession of their farmland at Cheema Khuddi village. The unions also allege that turbans were knocked off and excessive force was used. All detained individuals were released by evening, but the incident sparked renewed outrage over what farmers call unjust compensation practices. Gurbachan Singh Chabba of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC) said farmers had rushed to the site after district officials, escorted by police, had started taking control of agricultural land without fair settlement. "They offered compensation that doesn't reflect market reality," he said. "How can they expect us to give up our land for a fraction of its value?" KMSC state vice-president Harvinder Singh Masania said the administration had attempted to take possession of a 4.5-km stretch, offering ₹36 lakh to the farmers for each acre. He argues that the Land Acquisition Act mandates compensation up to four times the market rate, accusing the govt of betrayal and manipulation. As tensions escalated, farmers overturned tractor-trailers to block police vehicles. Masania said cops had detained 34 farmers, including women, and taken them to nearby police stations at Alliwal, Ghanie ke Bangar, and Sri Hargobindpur. All were freed later the same day. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In Amritsar district, farmer unionist Germanjit Singh said police had detained three farmers from Nawanpind village during a peaceful demonstration against land acquisition along the Amritsar–Chowk Mehta Road. "They came to seize almost 7 acres. We resisted peacefully, yet our people were detained," he said, adding that they were released shortly after intervention by other protesters. The expressway project has faced consistent resistance from serveral farmer unions, who claim that it threatens agricultural livelihoods and violates the principles of equitable land compensation. The state govt has yet to comment on Saturday's incident. MSID:: 120852707 413 |
