Several farmer leaders detained ahead of Chandigarh protest
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Chandigarh: A day ahead of the farmers’ protest in Chandigarh, leaders of 16 farmer unions led by the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee were detained by the Punjab Police on Monday.
Sixteen farmer bodies, including Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, Bharti Kisan Union (Karanti kari), BKU (Ekta Azaad), Aazaad Kisan Committee, Doaba, BKU (Behramke) and Bhoomi Bachao Mohim, planned to hold a protest on August 22, to seek compensation for losses caused by floods.
The detained leaders have been identified as Sarvan Singh Pandher (state president of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee), Baldeep Singh, Kanwardilip Singh, Chamkaur Singh, and Borh Singh.
A farmer leader in Tarn Taran claimed that the police conducted raids at the residences of farmer leaders and detained them. To protest against the alleged police action, farmers owing allegiance to the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee held a protest at a toll plaza in Tarn Taran.
Representatives of 16 farmer bodies on Sunday had held a meeting with senior officials of Chandigarh and Punjab Police in Chandigarh over their protest.
The farmer leaders demanded a package of Rs 50,000 crore from the Centre for damages caused by floods in the northern region including Punjab. They also demanded Rs 50,000 per acre compensation for crop loss, Rs 5 lakh for a damaged house, and Rs 10 lakh compensation for a family of a person who died in floods.
The negotiations between the government and farmers reportedly failed, and later, the farmer leaders met Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit who assured them that he would ask officers of both Punjab and Haryana to hear their grievances.
Shiromani Akali Dal leader Daljit Singh Cheema condemned the police action against farmer leaders, calling it “undemocratic.” Cheema said the state government has “miserably failed” to provide relief to the affected farmers and farm labourers.
“This is inhumane. All of them should be released immediately,” said Cheema on X.
Inputs from agencies