New Delhi : Former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi lambasted the government over the detention of protesting farmers at the Shambhu border, saying that Punjab was going through "tragic times".
Apprising about Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, he added that the farming community was "under attack" as part of a "conspiracy".
"Aaj Punjab ke upar ek badi vipda ka din hai (Punjab is going through tragic times). Our CM met Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and farmers are being attacked as part of a conspiracy. Not just Punjab but the entire farming community is facing a big attack today," the Congress MP told news agency.
Referring to farmers' meeting with the centre, Channi said the farmers were being "deceived, maligned and were (being) attacked from behind" despite the government holding talks with them. He said that farmers were not blocking roads. Instead, they were being stopped from reaching Delhi.
"A meeting was held (in Chandigarh) in which it was decided that the next round of talks would be held on May 4, but they (farmers) were attacked from behind. They are being deceived and maligned. The road has been blocked by the government, not by the farmers. They (farmers) want to come to Delhi," Channi said.
Earlier, Former Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal lashed out at the Bhagwant Mann government in Punjab over the "arrest" of protesting farmers at the Shambhu border, who remain firm on various demands including legal guarantee on Minimum Support Price (MSP) for all crops. Demanding their release, Badal accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab of ignoring demands made by the farmers despite promising MSP on crops.
"The Bhagwant Mann government, which promised to give MSP to the farmers of Punjab in five minutes, is not even ready to listen to the legitimate demands of the farmers today. I strongly condemn the forcible abduction of farmer leaders and farmers," Badal, who is the former Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab, posted on his Facebook page.
"The Punjab government should immediately release the arrested farmers and accept their demands," he added. Several farmer leaders were detained by the police, including Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who remains on an indefinite fast, and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha leader Sarvan Singh Pandher.
Farmer leader and national spokesperson of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), Rakesh Tikait, condemned the Punjab government's action and said, "On one hand, the government is negotiating with the farmer organizations and on the other hand, it is arresting them."
A tense situation unfolded at the Shambhu Border when farmers were protesting, pressing on their various demands. Several farmer leaders were detained by the police on Tuesday at the Punjab-Haryana border.
Meanwhile, the Haryana Police used bulldozers to remove concrete barricades erected at the Shambhu Border to restrict the farmers' movement further. Punjab Police also removed protesters from the site.
Patiala Senior Superintendent of Police Nanak Singh asserted that the entire road will be cleared and opened for traffic. Speaking to news agency, SSP Singh stressed that they did not use force as protesting farmers cooperated with them and said, "A few people showed a willingness to go home. So, they were sent home on a bus. The entire road will be cleared and opened for traffic."