Former MP and senior Congress leader Pawan Kumar Bansal strongly criticised the BJP’s stringent measures to suppress the farmers’ agitation, condemning the imposition of Section 144. He emphasized that India, being a democratic country, grants everyone the right to express their opinions. Bansal expressed full support for the farmers and questioned the hindrance to their protests.
Criticising the BJP-led Chandigarh administration, Bansal highlighted the imposition of Section 144 for two months and the closure of major routes, with the Haryana government blocking the national highway using multiple barriers. Describing these actions as undemocratic, Bansal accused the BJP of attempting to silence opposition voices out of fear of its failures over the past decade, causing suffering to the people of Chandigarh.
Bansal accused the BJP government of treating Punjab farmers as terrorists. He pointed out the adverse impact on the general public, patients accessing PGIs from Haryana and Punjab, and the economic losses faced by the city’s business community due to disrupted supply chains from Delhi. The reduction in daily bus services between Delhi and Chandigarh also inconvenienced hundreds of people.
Highlighting the increased travel time for city residents going to Haryana or Delhi, Bansal attributed these difficulties to the BJP’s arrogance. He questioned the need for creating a war-like situation against the country’s own farmers instead of focusing on preventing external threats, such as the Chinese army occupying Indian territory.
In conclusion, Bansal strongly criticized the BJP government’s actions, deeming the restrictions imposed on farmers as shameful. He emphasized the adverse consequences on public life, healthcare, and the economy, urging a reconsideration of the stringent measures.