The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday announced a decisive protest against the BJP-led central Government, planning to gherao the BJP office in Chandigarh’s Sector 37 on Wednesday (October 30). The protest aims to highlight the ongoing issues stemming from the slow grain lifting process, which has severely impacted farmers, commission agents, and mill owners across Punjab.
Expressing strong discontent with the Central Government’s policies, senior AAP leader and Cabinet Minister Aman Arora characterized them as vindictive actions aimed at punishing Punjab's farmers for their previous protests against the government. “BJP Government is deliberately slowing down grain lifting to take revenge for the farmers’ movement,” he said, underscoring the detrimental effects of this decision. The lack of timely lifting has led to overcrowded warehouses, leaving no space to store new grain, while mill owners are also struggling with insufficient storage facilities.
Arora emphasized that this protest is not merely an AAP initiative but a collective demonstration by all Punjabis against what he termed the BJP's high-handedness. “This is not just a protest by AAP but a demonstration by every Punjabi against BJP’s high-handedness,” he remarked, urging citizens to join the movement. He acknowledged the efforts of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to address these concerns, but lamented that the central government continues to ignore these pressing issues. “Farmers, workers, commission agents, and traders are all suffering because of this issue,” he added, calling on the public to participate in large numbers to send a strong message to the central government.
In tandem with Arora's statements, AAP Punjab general secretary Harchand Singh Barsat also criticized the BJP government for its neglect of Punjab’s agricultural sector. Barsat highlighted the urgent need for action, noting that millions of tons of grain remain in the mandis, with the central government refusing to lift them. “The central government is continuously troubling Punjab’s farmers and commission agents,” he asserted, reinforcing Arora's points about the vindictiveness of the BJP's policies. He called on the people of Punjab to join the protest, emphasizing that the ongoing crisis affects not only farmers but all sectors linked to agriculture.
The protest is scheduled to begin at Batra Theater in Sector 37 at 11 am, from where AAP leaders and supporters will march towards the BJP office. Barsat reiterated the importance of widespread participation, declaring that the demonstration would serve as a powerful message against the Central Government’s anti-Punjab stance.
