PT John Among Over 500 Farmer Activists Arrested In Punjab
The Punjab Police have arrested over 500 protesting farmers, including Kerala farmer leader PT John, as part of a large-scale crackdown at the Punjab-Haryana border. Many prominent leaders remain detained at Patiala Central Jail, with their bail status uncertain. A crucial meeting on Saturday is expected to determine the course of action regarding the detainees.
The arrests followed an inconclusive meeting between farmer leaders and central government officials in Chandigarh on Wednesday. Notable farmer leaders, including Sarwan Singh Pandher, Jagjit Singh Dallewal, Abhimanyu Kohar, Kaka Singh Kotra, and Manjit Singh Rai, were taken into custody while heading towards protest sites at Shambhu and Khanauri. Heavy police deployment, including barricades, ambulances, and fire trucks, has been reported near these key demonstration locations, raising tensions further.
Punjab’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government launched the crackdown on March 19, surprising many farmers who had been protesting at these sites for the past 399 days. The protests, initiated on February 13, 2024, demand a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops. The government’s move cleared national highways at Shambhu and Khanuri, which had been blocked since last year. Punjab officials announced that the roads would soon reopen to traffic.
Farmer leaders and activists have condemned the arrests, calling them an act of betrayal by the Bhagwant Mann-led government. Lakhwinder Singh Aulakh of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) stated that the AAP government’s actions were more deceptive than the previous crackdowns by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Satnam Singh Pannu, president of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangrash Committee, accused the government of acting out of political vengeance rather than in the interest of farmers.
The large-scale detentions have prompted further unrest, with detained farmers beginning hunger strikes across police stations in Sangrur, Patiala, and Mohali. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) have announced protests outside the offices of deputy commissioners in Punjab and Haryana, vowing to continue their struggle for farmers’ rights.
The Punjab government defended its actions, citing economic repercussions due to prolonged highway blockades. AAP leader and Punjab Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan argued that the protest had adversely impacted the state’s economy, industry, and employment. He urged farmer unions to shift their agitation to Delhi and target the BJP-led central government instead. AAP cabinet minister Harpal Singh Cheema echoed similar sentiments, stating that while Punjab’s government supports farmers’ demands, the economic paralysis caused by road closures must be addressed.
Despite AAP’s justifications, opposition parties have strongly condemned the crackdown. Senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia accused the Mann government of betraying farmers and attempting to suppress their voices. Meanwhile, in Haryana, the BJP-led government has intensified its own actions, pasting notices outside farmer leaders’ homes and arresting several union representatives.
With tensions mounting, the next round of talks between the central government and farmer unions is scheduled for May 4. Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan assured that discussions would continue, but farmer leaders remain adamant about securing a legal MSP guarantee.
