Mohali, March 18 — Police arrested key farm union leaders Sarwan Singh Pandher and Jagjit Singh Dallewal near Mohali’s Bestech Mall on Wednesday while they were heading toward the Shambhu border. Dallewal, who has been on a hunger strike since November, is likely to be hospitalised, officials said.
According to reports, internet services have been suspended around the Shambhu border with builders attempting to raze tents and stages and over 200 farmers have been detained.
The arrests have drawn sharp criticism from political leaders, who accused the AAP-led Punjab government of betraying farmers.
Former CM Charanjit Singh Channi also condemned the arrests, alleging that the Punjab government was following BJP’s directives.
Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring called the move a betrayal of farmers, claiming it was an attempt to divert attention from the recent Patiala police brutality incident.
Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa termed the arrests a “cowardly act,” accusing CM Bhagwant Mann of backstabbing the farming community.
“Punjabis will never forgive Mann for this shameful betrayal. It has never happened in Punjab’s history that leaders were called for a meeting and then arrested. This is against our tradition,” Bajwa said.
