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New Indian Express
06-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Punjab cops stop farmers from reaching police station for day-long dharna, Dallewal warns of fresh protest
Irked that many farmers leaders have been placed under house arrest, Dallewal, in a video message uploaded on Tuesday, said the farmer unions only wanted to raise their voice against the police action on March 19-20 but the AAP-led Punjab government has turned the state into a garrison and started a crackdown against farmers. "Many of the leaders detained yesterday have been sent to jails including our leader Kaka Singh Kotda. CM Mann should keep in mind that such state repression may push them towards launching another protest. The protests can never be silenced through coercion as more repression faces more resistance and rising voices do not tolerate dictatorship," he said. Sarwan Singh Pandher, convener of the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, said Punjab appears to have turned into a police state. "Peaceful protests against the state government are not allowed,' he said. Farmers, mainly activists of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh committee, were stopped at Ajitwal town in Moga and a few of them were even taken into custody, claimed farmer leaders. Farmers from Ambala in Haryana were also not allowed to reach Shambhu, being stopped at Gurdwara Manji Sahib. "Punjab police reached the gurudwara in plain clothes and studied their movements," claimed a Haryana farmer leader. The dharna is in response to the police crackdown on March 19, when farmer leaders were detained after a meeting with Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in Chandigarh. The Shambhu and Khanauri protest sites were cleared by the state police on the same day. The farmers are demanding compensation for the items that had allegedly been stolen or gone missing during the police crackdown at Shambhu, which they claimed were later traced to individuals linked to the Aam Aadmi Party and police personnel.
Hindustan Times
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Patiala turns fortress to deter Punjab farmers from reaching Shambhu police station
Punjab Police continued its statewide crackdown on farmer leaders and stepped up vigil in Patiala district on Tuesday to prevent protesters under the banner of Kisan Mazdoor Morcha and Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) from heading to Shambhu police station on the border with Haryana for a day-long dharna. Police personnel stepped up vigil in Patiala district to prevent farm protesters from reaching Shambhu police station on the Punjab-Haryana border for a dharna on Tuesday. (HT Photo) Police set up a naka (check-point) on National Highway 44 near Shambhu barrier to stop the farmers from reaching the police station, leading to traffic jams. Police personnel were checking every vehicle and allowing passage only to those headed toward Delhi or Haryana. All roads leading to Shambhu police station were heavily barricaded. Senior police officers, including Patiala SSP Varun Sharma, were on the field, ensuring no protester reaches the police station. The protest, spearheaded by Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, is in response to the police crackdown on March 19, when farmer leaders were detained after a meeting with Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in Chandigarh and cleared off the Shambhu and Khanauri protest sites that they had been occupying since February 13, 2024, when their Delhi Chalo march was stopped en route to the national capital. Farmers are demanding compensation for the items that had allegedly gone missing during the March 19 police crackdown at Shambhu, which they claimed were later traced with individuals linked to Aam Aadmi Party leaders and police personnel. Patiala Police said that farmers wouldn't be allowed to hold protests outside the police station at any cost. Patiala SSP Varun Sharma, who was at Shambhu, said, 'No one will be allowed to hold protests and harass the people. We will not allow farmers to disrupt law and order at any cost.' Key farmer leaders, including Jagjit Singh Dallewal, were detained in various districts on Monday ahead of the protest. KMM leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said, 'Punjab seems to have turned into a police state. Peaceful protests against the state government are not allowed.' Chief minister Bhagwant Mann had warned protesters on Monday that legal action would be taken against those who disrupt public life and hinder the state's progress.
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.
Time of India
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Police stop protesting farmers from heading towards Faridkot
Bathinda: Activists from the farmer forums Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) clashed with police on their way to a venue where Punjab assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan and ministers Tarunpreet Singh Sondh, Laljit Singh Bhullar, and Baljit Kaur were in attendence. The farmers, under a joint call from both forums, assembled in various districts to deliver memorandums seeking compensation for damage to wheat crops due to fires and untimely rains, as well as for items that went missing from protest sites at Shambhu and Khanauri on March 19. The activists gathered in Faridkot while the speaker and ministers were in town for a programme under the 'Yudh Nashia Virudh' (War Against Drugs) campaign. The activists aimed to reach the venue to deliver their memorandum but were stopped at a distance. When the farmers attempted to proceed, the police used force to stop them and detained several activists. In the ensuing chaos, some farmers opposed the use of force. Activists claimed that the previous Punjab govt betrayed them by arresting farm leaders after a meeting with central and Punjab ministers and dismantling the morchas on March 19. They argued that farmers suffered due to fires in the fields and untimely rains. The activists added that despite the 'Yudh Nashia Virudh' campaign by the govt, drugs remain available in hotspot areas across districts. Meanwhile, the assembly Speaker and the ministers resolved to eradicate drug abuse and claimed that the campaign is yielding desired results. MSID:: 120822691 413 |
New Indian Express
02-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Centre postpones May 4 talks with Punjab farmers over demand to exclude state government
CHANDIGARH: The Union Government has postponed the scheduled May 4 meeting with Punjab-based farmer unions after the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) and the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) insisted on excluding representatives of the Punjab government from the discussions. The Centre, in response, urged the farmer leaders to reconsider their stance, emphasising the importance of state participation in a federal setup. A letter in this regard was sent by Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Puran Chandra Kishan, to both KMM and SKM (Non-Political). 'As you know, state governments have an important role in the federal structure. Therefore, it would be appropriate to include the state government in the meeting. You are requested to reconsider the above decision, so that we can move forward towards a solution through dialogue. Therefore, it is requested that after positive deliberation, you give your consent for the meeting with the participation of the state. The meeting of May 4 is postponed till we get your consent. The date of the next meeting will be decided after receiving information from you,' stated the letter.
