Farmer leader Sarvan Singh Pandher of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee-Punjab has slammed the AAP-led Punjab government, demanding compensation for damages suffered during the farmers’ protests.
Upon his release from Muktsar Sahib jail on Friday, Pandher accused the Bhagwant Mann-led government of trying to suppress the farmers’ movement and vowed to continue the struggle.
“Our movement will continue,” Pandher declared, emphasizing that the fight for farmers’ rights is far from over. Speaking to the media, he questioned the Punjab government’s decision to take action against farmers despite claiming that the protests were aimed at the Union government.
“The losses we suffered due to the damage to our tents, tractors, and other equipment must be compensated by the government,” he added.
Pandher’s release comes after several farmer leaders, including Jagjit Singh Dallewal, were detained by Punjab Police on March 19. Following criticism, the Punjab government recently decided to release 450 detained farmers.
Despite this, tensions remain high as Bhartiya Kisan Union (Lakhowal) leader Harinder Singh Lakhowal and Samyukt Kisan Morcha leader Raminder Singh have refused to meet with the Punjab government. Instead, they have called for a statewide protest at district headquarters on March 28 to oppose what they describe as state repression against farmers.
The farmers’ anger intensified after Punjab police dismantled protest sites at Sambhu and Khanauri borders. Following this, Punjab’s Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian invited farmer leaders for talks in Chandigarh on Friday, but key leaders boycotted the meeting in protest.
Harinder Singh Lakhowal stated, “The government used force against us, removed us from our protest sites illegally, and many of our people are still in jail. We will not attend the meeting but will protest on March 28.”
With farmer leaders standing firm, the Punjab government faces mounting pressure as protests are set to escalate across the state.