By The Sampadak Express
Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu launched a sharp criticism of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday, following the detention of protesting farmers from the Shambhu border. The detentions occurred as the central government, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), continues its discussions with the protesting farmers. Several farmer leaders were detained by Punjab police on Wednesday evening while returning from one such meeting.
Bittu, the only Punjab minister in the Narendra Modi government, accused CM Mann of acting under the influence of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal. He remarked, “Tu sirf Kejriwal de ishareya te nachda” (You only dance to Kejriwal’s tune). The Union minister further expressed that the people of Punjab would not allow CM Mann to enter any village in the state.
Bittu alleged that the Mann government was preventing a resolution between the central government and the farmers, despite positive discussions. He pointed out that he had spoken with Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and noted their shock upon hearing that action was being taken against farmers with whom the talks had been progressing well. Bittu condemned the Punjab government’s actions and accused them of prioritizing political gain over the welfare of the farmers. He stated, “You put the entire Punjab and farmers at stake just to remain in power. Nothing will happen to Kejriwal, but the people of Punjab will not allow you to enter any village.”
Bittu also criticized the Punjab government for not wanting to see the ongoing talks between the center and farmers reach a positive conclusion. He implied that the Mann government’s actions were politically motivated, linking it to the upcoming Ludhiana West by-election.
Opposition Parties Join Criticism
The controversy surrounding the detention of farmers has drawn widespread condemnation from opposition parties, including Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). Former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi accused the Mann government of subjecting the state to “tragic times.” He also hinted at a possible meeting between CM Bhagwant Mann and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, suggesting that the farming community was being “targeted” as part of a larger conspiracy.
Sukhbir Singh Badal, former Deputy CM of Punjab and senior SAD leader, also criticized the government over the farmer detentions. He reminded the government of its promise to provide a Minimum Support Price (MSP) to farmers within five minutes, which he said had not been fulfilled. “The Bhagwant Mann government, which promised to give MSP to the farmers of Punjab in five minutes, is not even ready to listen to the legitimate demands of the farmers today,” Badal stated in a Facebook post. He strongly condemned the “forcible abduction” of farmer leaders and demanded their immediate release, as well as the acceptance of their demands.
Farm Leaders Detained
Among those detained were prominent farmer leaders such as Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who is on an indefinite fast, and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha leader Sarvan Singh Pandher. Dallewal was later moved to the Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences in Jalandhar after his detention.
As the situation unfolds, political and public pressure is mounting on the Punjab government to address the concerns of the farming community and ensure the peaceful resolution of the ongoing protests.
