The police on Thursday resorted to use of batons and water cannons on a group of protesting farmers at Moga in Punjab as they marched towards a venue where former Deputy Chief Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal was addressing a rally.
Farmer leaders claimed that around a dozen farmers suffered injuries after the police resorted to ‘lathi-charge’ near the new grain market.
Leader of the Kirti Kisan Union Nirbhay Singh told The Hindu that farmers were protesting peacefully and wanted to meet Mr. Badal to seek answers on farmers’ issues.
“We have every right to seek answers from leaders, and today, we wanted to ask Mr. Badal why his party, at the first place, did support the three farm laws, when they [SAD] were a partner of the government at the Centre. As we moved towards the venue, the police used water cannons and batons on us, leaving close to a dozen injured,” he said. “Now, we have started a ‘pucca morcha’ [permanent protest], and until the farmers, who have been detained are not released, we will not relent.”
Moga Superintendent of Police Gurdeep Singh said the police had to use mild force to control the situation after the protesters started pelting stones and attacking the police personnel. “We repeatedly urged the protesters to stay calm but when they started pelting stones, the police had to use mild force in a bid to maintain the law and order. Around four-five police personnel were injured in the incident,” he added.
‘Deep-rooted conspiracy’
Senior SAD leader Bikram Singh Singh Majithia alleged that attempts to disrupt the Akali Dal gatherings, being organised as part of the party’s “Gal Punjab Di” campaign, were part of a deep-rooted conspiracy of the ruling Congress in conjunction with the Central government to disturb the hard earned peace in Punjab and impose President’s rule in the State.
“The disruptive conspiracy had a twin objective - to postpone the Assembly elections in Punjab as well as defame the peaceful farmer movement,” said Mr Majithia at a press conference here.
Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), the umbrella body of farmer unions that is spearheading the ongoing farmers’ protests against Centre’s farm laws, condemned the lathicharge on Kirti Kisan Union workers and demanded immediate action against the officials. “The farmers were ‘lathicharged’ when they were peacefully going to talk to Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Badal,” it stated.
