Punjab Congress MLA, leaders detained, let off later

The Congress MLA from Nawanshahr, Guriqbal Kaur Babli, and several other party leaders were detained as they attempted to wave ‘black flags’ at Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal during his visit to Nawanshahr on Thursday. They were all later released.

“We were going to meet the deputy chief minister and apprise him of the issues with green pea seeds. The agriculture department had provided these seeds to farmers but they were of poor quality and hence farmers are now facing heavy losses,” Guriqbal said, adding that they want the government to provide compensation of Rs 50,000 per acre to the farmers.

The Congress MLA along with the party leaders gathered at A S resort in the afternoon and began to march to Blue Moon Palace, where Sukhbir was to address his party leaders.

While they were marching towards the venue, however, police stopped them and took them to the Jadla Police Post. They were kept there for a few hours before being released at around 5 pm, by which time the deputy CM had left Nawanshahr.