Day before tractor march to Chandigarh, 30 farmer leaders arrested in Punjab

Before the arrests, farmer leaders held two inconclusive meetings over their demands with police officials in Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh Saturday and Sunday, and another meeting with Punjab Governor Banwari Lal Purohit Sunday evening.

“Talks did not materialise and everyone came back to their houses Sunday night. However, many farmer leaders in Punjab were arrested while several others were detained in their houses early Monday. So, we have started protesting near two dozen toll plazas across 16 districts in Punjab,” said Baljinder Singh from Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC).

Sarwan Singh Pandher, the convenor of 16 farmer unions, Jaswinder Singh of BKU Ekta Azad, Balwant Singh from BKU Bhermake, and Sukhwinder Singh Sabrahan of BKU (Krantikari) are among the prominent arrestees.

“District presidents, general secretaries, and state committee members of farmer unions have been arrested. We are staging dharnas at several toll plazas demanding the release of our leaders. A call will be taken on the plan to march towards Chandigarh later on,” Baljinder Singh said.

Dharnas are being staged at toll plazas in Ludhiana, Moga, Ferozepur, Taran Taran, Amritsar, and Gurdaspur, among others.

The 16 farmer unions are demanding a central flood relief package of Rs 50,000 crore for Punjab, and Rs 50,000 per acre compensation for flood-affected farmers, among others.

However, the 16 farmer unions are not associated with the Samyukt Kisan Morcha that spearheaded the agitation against the now-scrapped three farm laws.