• Source:JND
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Punjab Police have begun the process of removing farmers who have been protesting at the Khanauri and Shambhu borders over their long-standing demands. The police operation at the Punjab-Haryana Shambhu border involved dismantling temporary structures, including tents and fans, from the protest site.

Additionally, farmer leaders Sarwan Singh Pandher and Jagjit Singh Dallewal were detained while travelling from Chandigarh to the Shambhu border, as reported by The Tribune citing sources.

To clear the borders, the police also resorted to a mild cane charge. The internet has also been suspended in the area. 

The decision to take action against the protesting farmer unions was reportedly made after a meeting on Monday night between senior AAP leaders and industrialists, as per the aforementioned media outlet. The industrialists raised concerns about the significant financial impact due to the closure of key roads in Punjab.  

Reacting over the development, SAD leader and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal rebuked Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann for failing to fulfil the demands of farmers. 

"Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann has lost its mental balance...Jagjit Singh Dallewal who was on an indefinite hunger strike has also been detained by the police...During the elections, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann promised that he would fulfil all the demands of the farmers, but after the formation of the government, he is just lying to the farmers. No one is safe in Punjab," she said.

Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu also condemned the Punjab government’s action, alleging that CM Mann had detained farmers to win Ludhiana West by-election.

"I condemn this action of the Punjab government...They voted for you (AAP government) and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann should be ashamed...They (AAP government) did not want a solution to be found through talks between the central government and the farmers...You detained farmers just to win the Ludhiana West by-election...People of Punjab will not allow Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann to enter any village," Bittu said.

Punjab Congress chief and Ludhiana MP Amarinder Singh Raja Warring accused CM Mann of deceiving the farmers. "The farmers are being constantly deceived. Farmers were told to end their hunger strike and then we will hold talks with them...The central government always tries to isolate farmers, especially of Punjab...After the meeting between farmers and the central delegation concluded, Punjab Police detained the farmer leaders...The central government and AAP government want to isolate the farmers of Punjab...This is very wrong," he said.

Meanwhile, Punjab Minister Harpal Singh Cheema has justified the action, asserting that the traders and youths of Punjab were very upset as Shambhu and Khanauri borders were closed for more than one year. He said the protest of farmers is against the Centre and they should move towards Delhi.

"The AAP government and the people of Punjab stood with the farmers when they protested against the three black laws...The demands of the farmers are against the central government...It has been more than a year and Shambhu and Khanauri borders are closed. The traders, youth of Punjab are very upset. When the traders will do business, the youth will get employment and they will stay away from drugs...Today's action has been taken because we want the youth of Punjab to get employment...We want to open Shambhu and Khanauri borders...The demands of the farmers are against the central government and they should stage a protest in Delhi or somewhere else but should not block the roads of Punjab," he said.

SSPs from districts such as Sangrur, Barnala, and Malerkotla have been deployed to the Khanauri border to supervise the ongoing operation. At the same time, farmers have begun assembling at both the Khanauri and Shambhu borders.

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