By Satinder Bains
CHANDIGARH: Under attack from opposition parties for his 'role' in the farmer's agitation, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has strongly refuted the allegations of his complicity with BJP government in Haryana and sabotaging the talks between farmers and the centre government for any vested interests.
On one hand Bhangwant Mann is blamed for complicity with BJP, on the other hand Sunil Jakhar president of Punjab BJP has accused Bhagwant Mann for sabotaging the dialogue between centre and the farmer leaders. He also accused Bhagwant Mann for deterioration in law and order in the state. The Congress party and SAD joined the issue holding Bhagwant Mann responsible for deadlock between farmers and the centre and also held the CM responsible for brutal 'murder' of a youth during farmer's protest.
Facing an onslaught by the opposition parties, Bhagwant Mann became live late last night on social media and explained the facts in his own defence. He ensured the people of state that his government would lodge an FIR for the 'murder' of a young farmer Shubhkaran Singh at Khanauri border. The deceased fell victim allegedly to a bullet fired by Haryana police. Bhagwant Mann said he was shell shocked at the death of Punjab's youth.
The opposition parties had blamed Bhagwant Mann for working 'hand in glove' with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP government in Haryana. The allegations by political rivals were focused on lack of action by Punjab Police against the Haryana cops who threw teargas shells through drones in the Punjab territory at Shambhu and Khanauri borders and also forced their entry inside Punjab border to attack farmers on Khanauri border on Feb 18 and 20. There are also allegations of kidnapping of certain youth by the Haryana Police.
Defending himself, the Chief Minister said that he had attended meetings between farmers and Union ministers as custodian of Punjab and supporter of demands of the farmers. He said that he was present in the meetings as an advocate of people of Punjab. He further said that he acted as a bridge to ensure that the farmers and Union government at some consensus but unfortunately it never happened. He clarified that he was not responsible for what offer was made by the centre to the farmers and what was the decision of farmer organisations on centre’s formula for solution.
Bhagwant Mann stated that Haryana and centre governments were responsible for volatile situation on the borders and killing of 21-year-old farmer Shubhkaran Singh. Punjab CM has also announced to regiter the FIR into the murder of Shubkaran Singh to counter the propaganda by opposition parties. He said that FIR would be lodged after post mortem of killed youth. The farmer organisations had also raised hue and cry and sought immediate action.
Bhagwant Mann had attended three of the four rounds of meetings between the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-political) and three union ministers Piyush Goyal, Arjun Munda and Nityanand Rai. Bhagwant Mann seemed supporting the centre’s offer of MSP on five crops of pulses and cotton after the fourth meeting. He emphasised that centre’s proposal would help Punjab farmers to diversify from paddy and save the underground water. The farmers had rejected the centre’s offer.
The main opposition parties Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal(SAD) targeted the Chief Minister accusing him for sabotaging the talks between farmers and the centre government due to vested political motives. He was also held responsible for attacks by Haryana police on protesting farmers at Shambu and Khanauri borders. The death of a young farmer Shubhkaran Singh had added fuel to the situation and also gave an opportunity to sharpen attack on Bhagwant Mann.
The opposition parties have questioned the Chief Minister for showing leniency towards Haryana police which is attacking the farmers without any provocation. Hundreds of farmers had injured and Haryana police entered the Punjab territory on first day of agitation on February 18 but no FIR was registered by Punjab police.
PPCC Chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring yesterday issued a stern warning asserting, "If no action is taken by the Aam Aadmi Party government in interests of our state and it’s farmers, and FIRs are not registered against those responsible for the attacks on our farmers, Punjab Congress and the people of Punjab will hold the state government equally responsible for any further injuries or deaths. Also, if no timely action is taken and the Punjab state unit of AAP continues to falsely propagate their support for the farmers, Punjab Congress will protest aggressively against the state government in order to force some action in favour of Punjab and it’s people.”
Partap Singh Bajwa CLP leader in a statement said, "The Haryana police has been firing tear gas shells and rubber bullets since February 13. However, the Punjab CM failed miserably to lodge an FIR against the Haryana Police and the Haryana Home Minister, Anil Vij", Bajwa added.
"I as a Leader of the Opposition have repeatedly exhorted the Punjab Government to lodge FIR and take legal action. Instead of doing the same, he remained busy in intermediate meetings between the farmers' unions and the central government. It establishes that CM Mann has developed proximity with the BJP and now has become the BJP's puppet", Bajwa added.
The opposition leader said that what Haryana police has been doing is completely inhuman and undemocratic. In a democratic set up every citizen has the right to protest peacefully. Yet the Haryana government is brutally suppressing the protest. Bajwa accused Mann of being complicit with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Haryana government against the farmers.
SAD president Sukhbir Badal while expressing condolence to the family of killed youth said that Punjab CM's conspiratorial double game is responsible for the loss of this young life, the only brother of two sisters.
Badal said, the police of another state are allowed to assault and kill Punjabis on Punjab soil, with Bhagwant Mann collaborating with Haryana against Punjab farmers. Peaceful protest being met with bullets unheard of in a democracy. The innocent blood of Shubhkaran Singh is on Bhagwant Mann’s hands, Badal's tweet said.
On first day of agitation when Haryana police violated the Punjab's territory, the farmer leader Swaran Singh Pandher had also sought a clarification from the Chief Minister how Haryana police was allowed to fly drones in Punjab boundary and who ordered to shut down internet services in Punjab?