Photo Source: Babushahi Bureau
End economic blockade of Punjab: SAD to Centre and Haryana
Punjab Bachao Yatra to remain suspended: Dr.Cheema
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, February 15, 2024: Expressing total solidarity with the farmers demand for the fulfillment of the promises already made to them, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today demanded the immediate lifting of the “social, economic and political blockade of Punjab” and the restoration of the fundamental rights and democratic freedom of the farmers and other Punjabis.” It also announced the temporary suspension of the Punjab Bachao Yatra.
“ The ongoing blockade, imposed jointly by the centre, Haryana and Punjab governments is destroying the social and economic fabric of the already beleaguered state ,” said the party’s senior Vice President Dr Daljit Singh Cheema while addressing a press conference after an emergency meeting of the party’s committee held here this afternoon.
The party demanded that all commitments made to the farmers by the centre and the Bhagwant Mann governments in the past be fulfilled without any further delay.
“The Punjab CM had promised that he would implement the MSP within five minutes of forming the government. He had also promised full compensation for the losses suffered by farmers as well as for allied professions like poultry, dairy etc”
Dr Cheeema said the SAD also held Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of “colluding with the Governments of Haryana and the centre in a deep rooted conspiracy to wreak vengeance and inflict repression against the innocent and peacefully protesting farmers”.
He said the party strongly condemned the repression on farmers including the use of bullets of different varieties. “ Bhagwant Mann must stop conspiring with the centre in treating the Punjab farmers as criminals. They must heed the advice of Dr M S Swaminathan’s daughter, Madhura Swaminathan,” said Dr Cheema.
The Akali leader further said, “the Chief Minister Mann must explain why he has not booked the guilty Haryana officers so far for invading Punjab territory to attack the peaceful farmers demanding nothing more than the fulfillment of the promises made to them, and that too on Punjab soil? Why has he not so far dismissed the Punjab officers who collaborated with their Haryana counterparts against the farmers? This clearly showed that the orders for allowing the Haryana police to attack farmers on Punjab soil came directly from the Punjab Chief Minister himself,” Dr Cheema added. He also called for resolution of all demands of farmers through negotiation.
The Akali leader bemoaned the continued interference of the Maharashtra government in Sikh religious affairs.
He said that it was sad and deplorable the Maharashtra government had not withdrawn the proposed amendment to the Sachkhand Hazoor Sahib Nanded Abchal Nagar Act. He said that even the 1956 amendment was a direct encroachment on the religious rights of the Sikhs. EOM