Akali workers demand release of Kanchanpreet Kaur, protest in Tarn Taran

Akali workers staged a protest near the District Administrative Complex (DAC) in Tarn Taran on Saturday, demanding the immediate release of Kanchanpreet Kaur, daughter of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Sukhwinder Kaur Randhawa. Kaur was arrested by the Chabal police on Friday after she appeared at the Majitha police station for questioning, despite having been granted bail by the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Kanchanpreet Kaur had contested the Tarn Taran by-election as the SAD candidate but was unsuccessful in her bid. The protest, led by senior Akali leaders, saw speakers condemning the arrest as politically motivated and an affront to the dignity of Punjab’s citizens. They argued that the arrest was a vengeful act targeting an innocent woman.

Among those who addressed the protestors were Sukhwinder Kaur Randhawa, former president of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee Alwinderpal Singh Pakhoke, Shiromani Committee member Gurbachan Singh Karmunwala, former MLA Virsa Singh Valtoha, Gursewak Singh Sheikh and former MLA Ravinder Singh Brahampura. The leaders expressed strong dissatisfaction with the state government, accusing Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann of undermining the interests of Punjab by succumbing to the influence of Delhi-based leaders.

The speakers also criticised the deteriorating law and order situation in Punjab and the rise in corruption, while alleging that the state government had deprived the poor of benefits such as the atta-dal scheme that had been introduced under the previous Akali regime.