Chandigarh-Former Punjab Health Minister and senior Congress leader Balbir Singh Sidhu has strongly condemned the arrests of farmer leaders by the Punjab Police and said, “This action of the government is a gross violation of democracy and constitutional rights.”
Speaking in favor of the farmers, Sidhu said, “Farmers have the right to peacefully protest against the government to get their demands fulfilled and the government is taking this right away from them by arresting farmer leaders,” he added that the Bhagwant Mann government, like the Modi government at the centre, has also started an unnecessary conflict with the farmers by making these arrests, the consequences of which will be borne by all Punjabis’.
Congress leader Balbir Singh Sidhu also condemned Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s insult to the farmer leaders he had called for a meeting yesterday and said that the Chief Minister’s arrogance is clearly visible in this action. He added, “I have often seen leaders of organizations walking out of meetings, but this is the first time I have seen the Chief Minister walking out.”
Sidhu, while accusing the Mann government, said, “The Chief Minister has also ordered the arrests of the farmer leaders out of anger over this meeting and with a sense of revenge.” He said that Bhagwant Mann should understand that the farmers’ protest will not be stopped with these arrests.
Sidhu demanded from the government that the arrested farmer leaders should be released immediately so that they can keep the cadres of their unions in order during the week-long protest being held in Chandigarh from tomorrow. Along with this, he expressed fear that due to the fake action of the government in making arrests, the protesting farmers may clash with the administration somewhere and in such a situation it may be difficult to control the farmers.