Farmers' movement will continue, says leader Pandher after jail release

Pandher strongly condemned the AAP-led Punjab government for destroying farmers' front

Farmer leader of Kisan Mazdoor Sanghrash Committee-Punjab, Sarvan Singh Pandher, on Friday criticised Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government and demanded compensation for the damages suffered during the farmer's protests.

Pandher was released from the Mukhtsar Sahib jail on Friday, following which he strongly condemned the AAP-led Punjab government for "destroying" farmers' front. 

"Our movement will continue," Pandher asserted, making it clear that the fight for farmers' rights is far from over.

Speaking to mediapersons, Pandher said, "I have been released from Muktsar Sahib Jail today. AAP and Bhagwant Mann had been saying that the farmers' protest was against the Union government. But today, the question arises: what was the Punjab govt's compulsion to take action against farmers? The losses we suffered due to damage to our tents and tractors etc should be compensated by the government. Our movement will continue."

Several farmer leaders, including farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who is on an indefinite fast and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha leader Sarvan Singh Pandher, were detained by the Punjab Police on March 19.

Earlier, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led the Punjab Government and decided to release 450 more farmers from police detention.

Earlier, Bhartiya Kisan Union (Lakhowal) leader Harinder Singh Lakhowal and Samyukt Kisan Morcha leader Raminder Singh refused to attend a meeting called by the Punjab government and announced a protest at district headquarters across the state on March 28, alleging repression by the state government.

The decision came after key farmer leaders accused the Punjab administration of using excessive force against protesting farmers and unlawfully detaining several leaders. They also cited unfavourable conditions for not participating in the meeting.

Notably, two days after Punjab police cleared the Sambhu and Khanauri border and removed the temporary structures erected by the protesting farmers, the state's Agriculture minister, Gurmeet Singh Khuddian, called for a meeting of farmer leaders on Friday in Chandigarh.

Harinder Singh Lakhowal said, "The Punjab government called a meeting with us. The kind of atrocities that happened to us, we were removed (from protest sites) illegally...so many people are still jailed. We have decided not to attend this meeting. We will hold a protest on 28th (March) against this at district headquarters.