Farmers protest leaders’ arrest, burn Punjab CM’s effigy in Sirsa

In Sirsa, farmers staged a protest at the Khuian Malkana toll plaza on Thursday, raising slogans and burning an effigy of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

The protest erupted after the arrest of several farmer leaders, including Jagjit Singh Dallewal.

Farmer leaders Mitthu Kamboj and Khushdeep Singh said, after a meeting with the Punjab Government on Wednesday, leaders were arrested without prior notice.

This enraged farmers in Punjab and Haryana, with many staging protests on call of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha.

The farmers are demanding the immediate release of their leaders.

They warned that if the leaders are not freed soon, they would intensify their movement. They blame both the Punjab Government and the Centre for the situation.

Kuldeep Sukhchain, the district convener of the Pagdi Sambhal Jatta Kisan Sangharsh Committee, has condemned the arrests, and strongly criticised the government’s actions.

He warned that any attempt to suppress farmers would not be tolerated.