On Wednesday, the Punjab Police evacuated the picket site from Shambhu and Khanouri border. JCB machines were also used for this. These farmers had been demonstrating their demands for more than a year.
Earlier, farmer leaders Saravan Singh Pandher and Jagjit Singh Dallawal were taken into custody after a meeting with the central delegation in Mohali. The Punjab government justified the decision to remove the farmers and said that the closure of important highways was causing heavy losses to industries and businesses.
More than 3000 policemen deployed, hundreds of farmers were detained
- A team of around 3000 policemen reached Khanouri border and 500 to 700 farmers were detained.
- Police forces were also stationed at Shambhu border and action was taken to remove the agitators.
- The campaign was led by Mandeep Singh Sidhu, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Patiala Range.
- The Punjab government had ordered the police to open these routes under any circumstances.
Significantly, this movement was going on since 13 February 2024 and for a long time the farmers were sitting on a dharna with their demands.
Arrest and protest of farmer leaders
Farmer leader Gurmaneet Singh Mangat said that when the farmer leader was returning after meeting with Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan, he was arrested.
Prominent farmer leaders arrested:
- Saravan Singh Pandher
- Jagjit Singh Dallewal
- Abhimanyu Kohd
- Kaka Singh Kotra
Dallawal is the same farmer leader who fasted for 54 days in January 2024 with the MSP (minimum support price). He warned that if the government does not give the MSP legal guarantee for 24 crops, then their fast would continue.
What are the major demands of farmers?
The main demands of farmers’ movement are as follows:
- Legal guarantee of MSP (minimum support price)
- Farmers loans should be waived
- Pension should be given to farmers and workers
- Opposition to increase in electricity rates
- Police cases lodged against farmers should be withdrawn
- Farmers killed in Lakhimpur Kheri violence get justice
- Land Acquisition Act 2013 be restored
- 2020-21 compensation should be given to the families of farmers killed in the peasant movement
Central-Kisan talks benatija, next meeting will be held on 4 May
A meeting was held between farmer leaders and representatives of the central government in Chandigarh on Wednesday, but no concrete result was found.
Who was involved in the meeting?
- Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan
- Union Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi
- Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal
- Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema
- Punjab Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian
After the meeting, Shivraj Singh Chauhan said that the talks will continue and the next meeting will be held on 4 May. Discussions will continue on the demands of farmers.
Opposition attack on Aam Aadmi Party government
In Punjab, the opposition launched a scathing attack on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government.
Charanjit Singh Channi (Congress) accused
Former Punjab Chief Minister and Congress leader Charanjit Singh Channi alleged that
“Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is planning strict action against the farmers and the help of the central government is being taken for this.”
Harsimrat Kaur Badal (Shiromani Akali Dal) statement
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal said that
“Bhagwant Maan Sarkar has forgotten the promises made to farmers. Now no one is safe in Punjab.”
He said that during the election, Bhagwant Mann made promises to the farmers, but now the government is only lying.
