Five Punjab Ministers arrested during protest against Paddy lifting; one injured

On Wednesday, members of the Mango Man Party staged a protest in Chandigarh against the central government’s slow lifting of rice. The protest took place outside the Punjab BJP office in Sector 37, where numerous leaders and supporters gathered to express their discontent. The police intervened to prevent the demonstration from escalating, employing water cannons to disperse the crowd.
During the altercation, police took six ministers, along with several legislators and supporters, into custody. The situation escalated when Minister Harjot Singh Bains was injured, and his turban was dislodged amid the chaos. In response, Ravneet Singh Bittu, a Minister of State and BJP leader, criticized the Punjab government for failing to make timely arrangements to avoid such confrontations. He noted that had the government acted appropriately, the situation could have been handled without unrest.
Leaders from the BJP attempted to approach the mandis but were met with police barricades that were set up early in the morning. As the leaders and supporters tried to advance, the police stopped them, resulting in a standoff. Demonstrators attempted to climb over the barricades, prompting the police to use water cannons. Despite these efforts, the protestors continued to press forward, leading to the police taking them into custody and transporting them to local police stations.
Among those detained were notable leaders, including Cabinet Ministers Harbhajan Singh ETO, Red Chand Kataruchak, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, Lalleet Singh Bhullar, and Tarunpreet Singh. The police’s actions were met with fierce sloganeering from the demonstrators, who expressed their frustration with the central government’s handling of the rice lifting process.
Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO emphasized the need for the central government to take swift action regarding the rice issue, warning that failure to do so would lead to more protests. Red Chand Bhullar echoed this sentiment, stating that the farmers deserve immediate relief and that the government must respond to their plight.
As tensions rose and protests intensified, the assembly of leaders and supporters at the rally showcased the growing discontent among farmers and their allies. The situation highlights the ongoing struggle between state and central authorities over agricultural policies and the pressing need for timely action to address the concerns of the farming community in Punjab. The events of the day serve as a reminder of the critical role that effective communication and responsiveness play in governance, particularly in a state heavily reliant on agriculture.