Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia launched a scathing attack on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab on Thursday, accusing it of reneging on its promises to farmers. Majithia alleged that AAP had made several commitments to farmers before assuming power, yet failed to fulfill any of them, leaving the farming community disillusioned and betrayed.
His remarks came in response to the AAP-led Punjab government's recent actions against protesting farmers. On Wednesday night, Punjab Police forcibly removed farmers protesting at the Shambu and Khanauri borders, dismantling temporary structures erected by them at the protest sites.
Several farmer leaders, including Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who is currently on an indefinite fast, and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha leader Sarvan Singh Pandher, were detained during the police crackdown.
"Before coming to power in Punjab, AAP made numerous promises to farmers, yet failed to fulfill any of them," Majithia asserted.
He further criticized the AAP government for initially allowing farmers to set up permanent structures at the Khanauri border, only to later demolish them. According to Majithia, this was a clear indication that AAP's support for farmers was purely a political tactic aimed at securing votes.
He accused AAP of shifting its focus to industrial development in Punjab merely as an electoral strategy ahead of the Ludhiana West by-election.
Majithia also took aim at the deteriorating law and order situation in the state, which he claimed was a major deterrent for industrial investment in Punjab.
"AAP supported the farmers in the past to garner votes, but now, with the Ludhiana West by-election approaching, they are suddenly prioritizing industry. The law and order situation in Punjab has collapsed, which is why industries are reluctant to invest in the state," he remarked.
Also Read: Farmers 'under attack' in govt 'conspiracy': Channi
Meanwhile, farmers under the banners of the All India Kisan Sabha and Bharatiya Kisan Union intensified their agitation on Thursday by marching to the residence of Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini in Karnal, demanding the fulfillment of their pending issues.
Responding to the criticism, Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema defended the government's actions, stating that the removal of protesting farmers from the Shambu and Khanauri borders was necessary to restore normalcy and facilitate traffic movement.
He insisted that the farmers should take their protest to Delhi since their demands are directed at the Central government.
"The AAP government and the people of Punjab stood firmly with the farmers when they protested against the three black laws. However, their current demands are against the Central government. For over a year, the Shambu and Khanauri borders have remained closed, causing distress to traders and youth in Punjab. Economic activity has been severely affected, and with businesses struggling, job opportunities are diminishing, pushing the youth toward drug abuse," Cheema explained.
Following the police action, traffic movement has resumed at the Punjab-Haryana Shambu border. Late on Wednesday evening, Punjab Police successfully cleared the area, removing protesting farmers along with their makeshift structures, restoring vehicular movement along the crucial route.
Also Read: H'yana clears barricades at Shambhu, Khanauri; protests loom
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