The protest staged by Punjab Congress women in Chandigarh escalated into a tense confrontation on Friday as police used water cannons to disperse the demonstrators.
The agitation, led by senior party leaders, including Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring and former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, was staged against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government for failing to deliver on its promise of providing Rs 1,100 per month to women in the state.
The protesters, marching towards the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, were intercepted by police, resulting in multiple detentions. Addressing the gathering, Raja Warring accused the AAP government of betraying the women of Punjab by not fulfilling its commitment.
He stated that the party had vowed to provide financial assistance of Rs 1,000 per month, which was later increased to Rs 1,100, but even after three years, not a single rupee had been disbursed.
Demanding justice for the women of Punjab, Warring insisted that the government must compensate them by paying Rs 36,000 as arrears for the past three years and immediately implement the promised Rs 1,100 monthly assistance. He further criticised the ruling dispensation, stating that no section of society, including farmers, soldiers, and women, was happy under the AAP government.
Highlighting the alleged mistreatment of farmers, Warring accused the government of shielding police officials responsible for assaulting Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath during recent farmer protests.
Former Deputy CM Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa also condemned the police action, strongly criticising the use of water cannons against women protesters. He accused the Chandigarh Police of resorting to excessive force and called their response ruthless and unjustified.
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