CHANDIGARH: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) held a major protest in Chandigarh on Wednesday against the central BJP government over the issues of slow procurement of paddy and the lifting of old grains in Punjab’s markets.
As AAP leaders were about to encircle the BJP office in Chandigarh, the Chandigarh police detained them and used water cannons to stop them. There were clashes and pushing between AAP leaders and the police. During the scuffle, Minister Harjot Bains's turban fell off, which escalated the matter. In response, AAP leaders raised slogans against the Chandigarh police and the central government.
The protest included AAP ministers Harjot Singh Bains, Harbhajan Singh ETO, Tarun Preet Singh Sondh, Lal Chand Kataruchakk, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, Laljit Singh Bhullar, Dr. Ravjot Singh, Hardeep Singh Mundia, the party's working president Principal Budhram, state general secretary Harchand Singh Barsat, and MLAs Ashok Pappi Parashar, Ranbir Singh Bhullar, Sukhwinder Singh Sukhi, Narinder Kaur Bharaj, Dinesh Chaddha, Charanjit Singh Channi, Inderbir Singh Nijjar, Balkar Singh, Rupinder Singh Happy, Jameel-ur-Rehman, Santosh Kataria, Sukhbir Singh Maisarkhana, AAP leaders Pawan Kumar Tinu, Sunny Ahluwalia, Parminder Goldie, Prabhjot Kaur, and many other office bearers, along with hundreds of party workers and supporters.
During a demonstration, senior party leader and Punjab government cabinet minister Harbhajan Singh ETO addressed the workers, stating that every year in October, paddy arrives in the markets. However, this time, the central government deliberately didn't lift the old grains from godowns. Now, the markets are overflowing with paddy. Farmers, traders, sheller owners, and laborers are all distressed, but the central government is not listening.
ETO said that BJP leaders are spreading false rumors to hide their mistakes. He said that the root of all problems lies with the central government and its agency, FCI. The Punjab government has been writing to FCI for the past seven to eight months, and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has met with central ministers, but no action has been taken.
ETO stated that our demonstration is in support of farmers, laborers, traders, and sheller owners, and against the central government. We will fight for the rights of farmers until the end and will ensure a solution to the problem.
Minister Harjot Bains said that the central government has always wronged Punjab. He stated that today he is not here as a minister, an MLA, or as a member of the Aam Aadmi Party, but as the son of a farmer from Punjab.
Bains said that his ancestors worked hard to make the land of Punjab cultivable. It is extremely unfortunate that while people across the country are celebrating Diwali, farmers in Punjab are struggling in the mandis. Their fault is that they fought against the BJP government's black agricultural laws.
He asserted that no matter how hard the BJP tries, we will not allow our farmers to be mistreated. Regarding the scuffle with the police that led to his turban falling, Bains said that if they had attacked him, it would not have hurt as much, but their attack on his turban has caused him great sorrow. He stated that we are the children of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, who said that both, oppressing and enduring oppression, are wrong. Therefore, our struggle will continue until the issue is resolved.
Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar stated that just as Indira Gandhi mistreated Punjab 40 years ago, Narendra Modi and the BJP are doing the same today. He mentioned that since the AAP government came to power in 2022, they have been increasingly troubling the state. Last time, they delayed the release of the CCL limit, and this time they deliberately did not lift the crops. The lifting is still very slow.
Bhullar said that the Modi government is acting under a conspiracy to harass Punjab's farmers and traders, and to defame the Aam Aadmi Party. However, the people of Punjab are very wise and understand the BJP's dirty politics.
He noted that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is closely monitoring the situation. Mann is personally checking the status of the mandis with officials and MLAs. The purchase of paddy is ongoing in the markets. The Punjab government is making payments to farmers within 24 hours. The Punjab government is doing its job, but the central government is focused on creating problems.
Minister TarunPreet Singh Sondh criticized the Chandigarh police's actions and said that this is a blatant attack by the BJP. We are unarmed people peacefully protesting. It is our democratic right. So, who is the police taking orders from to stop us from protesting?
He added that the central government's intentions are bad. They do not want a resolution to the issues. If they truly wanted, then the lifting would have already been done. We stand with Punjab's farmers, and we will fight for them whenever necessary.