Farmers insulted, CM owes people explanation: SAD

The Shiromani Akali Dal on Wednesday condemned the police action against farmers and said Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann owes an explanation to Punjabis as to why he invited farmers for talks and then insulted them by walking out of the meeting when reminded about the promises made by him to them.

Cheema told reporters that while Aam Aadmi Party national convener has been extended a “red carpet welcome” by the Mann government for a 10-day meditation retreat in Hoshiarpur, farmers have been stopped from entering the state capital.

Seeking an explanation from Mann, Cheema said, “The CM should tell why Kejriwal was being accorded a welcome reserved for heads of states when he did not have any constitutional authority and has no relation with Punjab”.

“Punjab farmers have not received the promised minimum support price for moong and maize, and have also not been given compensation for repeated crop losses,” he alleged. He also accused Mann of “trying to divert attention from demands of farmers by launching a campaign against corruption and drugs”.

“The truth is that corruption has been institutionalised under the AAP government even as the political nexus in drug trade has resulted in a sharp increase in drug-relateddeaths,” he alleged.