Farmers block Sukhbir’s convoy, Majithia too faces protesters’ ire
LUDHIANA/GURDASPUR: Alleging that the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) was complicit in the passage of the three contentious agri laws, farmers blocked party president Sukhbir Singh Badal’s motorcade in the Mattewara area on Tuesday.
A police team led by additional deputy commissioner of police (ADCP) Rupinder Kaur Sra, assistant commissioner of police Raj Kumar and other officials tried to persuade the protesting farmers to lift the blockade, but in vain. Sukhbir had to walk to the rally venue, which was around 300 metres from the protest site.
The protesters raised slogans and accused Sukhbir of supporting the farm laws and then changing his position after facing the farmers’ ire.
A farmer leader, Jagjit Singh, said: “Akali MLA Sharanjit Dhillon had assured us that Sukhbir will speak to the farmers and answer our queries on the farm laws and the Behbal Kalan firing. But Dhillon backtracked and Sukhbir refused to meet us.”
Addressing the gathering, the SAD chief dismissed the protesters as “Congress workers in the
garb of farmers who are being backed by the Punjab Police.”
Addressing the rally, Sukhbir listed out contributions of the party to uplift the farmers of the state. He said from initiatives like free power to bringing assured MSP for paddy and wheat to scrapping taxes on purchase of tractors and issuing tubewell connections to farmers were undertaken during the SAD government.
He said the party’s “Gal Punjab Di” programme would continue
at full steam and would not be affected by the “sponsored protests of the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party”.
He also announced Sharanjit Singh Dhillon as party’s candidate from Sahnewal.
Protest sponsored, claims SAD leader
Former minister and senior SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia faced a protest from farmers during his visit to Sri Hargobindpur constituency in Gurdaspur.
Farmers under the banner of Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee also raised slogans against Majithia for supporting the three farm laws in Parliament.
They also showed black flags to Majithia’a motorcade. Terming the protest sponsored, Majithia alleged that his car was attacked by protesters. Heavy police force was deployed during his visit, but the farmers managed to block his motorcade for a few minutes.