Condemning the BJP-led Haryana Government for using repressive tactics against farmers proceeding to Delhi to hold a peaceful protest against the three “unjust” agricultural laws on the Centre’s directions, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Tuesday asserted that the ‘lok lehar’ could not be repressed by such undemocratic means.
Terming the sealing of Haryana borders as “most unfortunate”, SAD spokesman and former Minister Daljit Singh Cheema said that BJP Government did not have any right to stop the movement of farmers on its roads.
“Farmers have a right to proceed to Delhi to record their protest against the agricultural laws. Haryana government should not use coercive tactics to suppress the ‘annadaata’ solely to please the Central Government,” he said.
Cheema also charged the Central Government with pushing the agitating farmers into the wrong direction by giving the green signal to Haryana Government to use undemocratic means to stop them from proceeding to Delhi to take part in the two days planned protest on November 26-27.
“Instead of doing this, the Centre should hold talks with farmers and accept their demands including guaranteeing assured government purchase of food grains at minimum support price (MSP).
It should simultaneously tell the Haryana Government to let farmers proceed to Delhi peacefully,” he said.
He also made it clear that the SAD wholeheartedly supported the ‘Delhi Chalo’ call. “We are one with the farming community in participating in the programme…Our cadre will also help farmers on the route to Delhi in every way possible,” he said.