Mann Govt to Pay Price for Removing Farmers: Farmers’ Leader Pannu
The Punjab government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, has found itself in a soup after the police forcibly removed protesting farmers from the Shambhu and Khanauri borders. The move has been widely condemned by the farming community, and its leader, Satnam Singh Pannu of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC), has warned that the government will have to pay a heavy price for this action.
In an exclusive interview, Pannu told ANI Digital that the decision to remove the farmers was taken under the influence of the Central government, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “We condemn the action against farmers by the Mann government in collaboration with or on orders of the Modi government,” he said.
The farmers’ leader accused the state government of being beholden to the Centre and failing to address the legitimate demands of the farmers. “The Mann government has betrayed the trust of the farmers and has chosen to side with the Modi government instead of standing up for the rights of the farmers,” he alleged.
Pannu claimed that the farmers were peacefully protesting against the Centre’s policies, which they believed were detrimental to their interests. “We were protesting against the Centre’s policies, including the three farm laws, which have led to the exploitation of farmers. We were also demanding the return of the crop insurance premium and the implementation of the Swaminathan Committee report,” he said.
The KMSC leader accused the Punjab Police of using excessive force against the farmers, resulting in injuries to many of them. “The police used batons, tear gas, and water cannons against us. Many farmers were injured, and some were even arrested,” he said.
Pannu warned that the government’s actions would not go unpunished. “The Mann government will have to pay the price for its actions. We will not be silenced, and we will continue to fight for our rights,” he said.
The farmers’ leader also called for a joint struggle with other farmers’ organizations and unions to fight against the Centre’s policies. “We will not fight alone. We will join hands with other farmers’ organizations and unions to fight against the Centre’s policies. We will not be defeated,” he said.
The removal of the farmers from the Shambhu and Khanauri borders has sparked widespread outrage across the state. Many political parties and civil society organizations have condemned the government’s actions, terming them as “dictatorial” and “undemocratic”.
The Punjab government, on its part, has defended its actions, saying that the farmers were creating a law and order problem by blocking the roads and highways. “The government has taken steps to restore normalcy and ensure the smooth movement of traffic on the roads,” a government spokesperson said.
However, the farmers’ leader has rejected the government’s claims, saying that the police action was a classic example of “suppression of dissent”. “The government is trying to suppress the farmers’ voice and silence them. But we will not be silenced. We will continue to fight for our rights,” Pannu said.
The controversy has also raised questions about the government’s commitment to the welfare of the farmers. The farmers’ leader has accused the government of being more interested in pleasing the Centre than addressing the legitimate demands of the farmers.
“The Mann government is more interested in pleasing the Centre than addressing the legitimate demands of the farmers. We will not be fooled by the government’s empty promises. We will continue to fight for our rights,” Pannu said.
The standoff between the farmers and the government is likely to continue in the coming days, with no signs of a resolution in sight. The farmers’ leader has warned that the government will have to pay a heavy price for its actions, and the consequences will be severe.
As the situation unfolds, one thing is clear: the farmers will not be silenced, and they will continue to fight for their rights until their demands are met. The government, on its part, will have to answer to the people for its actions, and only time will tell if it will be able to weather the storm.
Source: https://x.com/ani_digital/status/1902579400891056600
