Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: The Shambhu and Khanauri borders, where farmers had been protesting for over 13 months, were forcibly cleared by Punjab police on Wednesday night. Several farmers were detained, and their makeshift shelters were demolished using bulldozers. The Congress party has strongly criticized the BJP and AAP, accusing them of conspiring against farmers.
Punjab Police’s Late-Night Operation
The operation lasted several hours, during which prominent farmer leaders Sarwan Pandher and Jagjit Dallewal were taken into custody. The Punjab police completely vacated both borders after deploying a heavy force. The crackdown has drawn sharp reactions from the opposition and farmer unions.
Congress Slams BJP-AAP Alliance
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge took to social media, stating, “It seems that two anti-farmer parties have now joined hands against the nation’s farmers.” He accused the Punjab government of inviting farmers for talksonly to later forcibly evict them. Kharge also condemned the detention of senior farmer leaders.
Kharge further alleged, “Both parties—blinded by power—have betrayed our farmers. Be it Modi’s unfulfilled MSP promise or AAP’s swift implementation of the three black farm laws in Delhi, they have deceived India’s 62 crore farmers.”
“Shah and Mann Are Conspiring,” Says Congress
Senior Congress leader Pramod Tiwari accused Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of orchestrating a conspiracy against farmers. “Last night, while farmers were asleep, around 3,000-4,000 armed police officers forcibly removed them using bulldozers,” he said.
Tiwari stated that AAP’s Bhagwant Mann first invited farmers for discussions at his residence, then coordinated with Shah for the crackdown. He called the operation a direct betrayal of the farmers.
Farmer Leaders Condemn Crackdown
Satnam Singh Pannu of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee condemned both the Modi and Mann governments for their harsh treatment of farmers. He announced plans for protests outside Deputy Commissioners’ offices in Punjab and Haryana, warning that both governments will pay a heavy price for their actions.
Security Tightened at Shambhu Border
Authorities have increased security at the Shambhu border, with Haryana police removing concrete barricades using bulldozers. The situation remains tense as the opposition and farmer groups continue to voice their discontent.
Shiromani Akali Dal Demands Farmers’ Release
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Sukhbir Singh Badal demanded the immediate release of the arrested farmers, accusing the Punjab government of ignoring farmers’ demands despite promising MSP for crops.
