Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday launched a high-profile protest in Chandigarh against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) condemning the Central Government’s handling of paddy procurement and delayed grain lifting in Punjab’s markets. The demonstration saw a massive turnout, with key AAP Ministers and hundreds of party supporters confronting the Chandigarh police action, demanding urgent action for Punjab’s farmers.
The protest, led by prominent AAP leaders and Cabinet Ministers like Harjot Singh Bains, Harbhajan Singh ETO, Tarun Preet Singh Sondh, Lal Chand Kataruchakk, and others, attempted to gherao the BJP office in Chandigarh. However, the demonstrators were halted just 150 meters from their target, the Punjab BJP Office in Sector 38, near Batra Cinema, where police officers, after repeated warnings, deployed water cannons to disperse the crowd. The police also detained numerous party workers and six Ministers as tensions escalated.
During the scuffle, Minister Harjot Bains’s turban was knocked off, a moment that stoked outrage among AAP supporters. Bains later addressed the crowd, voicing his sorrow over the incident, stating, “They could have attacked me, and it would have been less painful. But attacking my turban is a personal affront. We, the children of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, believe in both standing up to oppression and refusing to tolerate it.”
The protest, AAP leaders argued, was a response to what they allege is the BJP Government’s retaliatory approach toward Punjab’s farmers, especially following the farmers’ movement against the controversial agricultural laws. Bains condemned the Central Government’s inaction, emphasizing the ongoing Diwali season, during which Punjab's farmers are struggling in overcrowded mandis. He stated, “It is deeply painful to see our farmers stranded in markets while the rest of the country celebrates Diwali.”
Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO echoed these sentiments, accusing the BJP of blocking the necessary removal of old stocks from godowns, leaving markets overflowing and placing undue pressure on farmers and local traders. He said that the Punjab Government has persistently urged the Food Corporation of India (FCI) to expedite the grain lifting, sending 15 official letters and even dispatching Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to meet central ministers. However, no concrete action has yet been seen from New Delhi, he said.
Senior AAP leaders, addressing the demonstration, questioned the motives behind the BJP’s actions. Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar remarked, “This treatment of Punjab is not new; it reminds us of the injustices under Indira Gandhi. Today, Narendra Modi’s Government appears to be following a similar path.” Bhullar further criticized the BJP for attempting to delay the financial and operational lifelines needed by Punjab’s farmers, insinuating a political agenda behind the delay in crop lifting.
As the protest continued, Minister Tarun Preet Singh Sondh highlighted the heavy-handed approach of the Chandigarh police, stating, “This aggression against peaceful, unarmed protestors is an attack on our democratic rights. Who has ordered them to suppress our voices?” He suggested that the BJP’s reluctance to address the issue is intentional, claiming, “If they truly cared, the crop lifting would have been completed by now.”
AAP leaders insist that despite the Central Government's alleged indifference, the Punjab government remains committed to alleviating the situation for farmers, issuing payments within 24 hours and ensuring the smooth functioning of local markets. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is said to be closely monitoring mandi operations, addressing any logistical challenges that arise.
AAP leaders have warned that if necessary, the protest will escalate to Delhi. Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO stated, “If the central government does not heed our warnings, we will intensify our demonstrations. We will go to Delhi and stand for our farmers’ rights.”
