Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu has blamed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Punjab government for the ongoing farmers’ protests in the state, stating that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s resignation could “solve the issue in two days.” Bittu, a BJP leader, accused the Punjab government of deliberately exacerbating the farmers’ grievances, adding that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and AAP leader Raghav Chadha were “enemies of Punjab,” obstructing a solution to the crisis.
According to Bittu, the central government had already allocated ₹44,000 crore for crop procurement at Minimum Support Price (MSP) two months ago, but orders for procurement are not being implemented by the state inspectors. “This problem has been intentionally created by the AAP government. The issue is neither from the side of farmers nor from the central government,” Bittu said in a statement to ANI.
The farmers in Punjab have been staging protests demanding timely paddy procurement, among other issues, and have organized road blockades in key areas, including Sangrur, Bathinda, Moga, Batala, and Gurdaspur. Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (PKMSC) District President Aranjeet Singh reiterated the farmers’ intention to press forward, citing concerns over police action against farmers for stubble burning as another unresolved issue.
Growing Discontent Over Stubble Burning
The protests have also brought attention to the Punjab government’s enforcement actions against farmers for stubble burning. Farmers argue that stubble burning only contributes 2-3% to overall pollution, while emissions from factories and road traffic are largely overlooked. A senior farm leader expressed frustration, calling stubble burning “an excuse to defame the farmers,” and claimed that both the central and state governments are ignoring the impact of industrial pollution while targeting farmers unfairly.
Blockades Across Punjab
Farmers from various districts, including Jalandhar, have joined the protests and have moved toward the Phagwara protest site to block the highway. Surjeet Singh Phul, president of Bhartiya Kisan Union (Krantikari) Punjabi, declared that the blockade would continue indefinitely until the government addresses their demands. The roadblocks will take place at multiple locations, including Sangrur, Moga, Phagwara, and Batala, with plans to intensify if resolutions are not reached.
PKMSC’s Aranjeet Singh added that while they aim to minimize disruptions for the public, the escalating situation could force further action if authorities remain unresponsive. “We don’t want common people to face any problems,” he said. “However, if the government is unable to decide anything, we will be forced to block the roads.”
Farmers Demand a Swift Resolution
The farmers have been vocal in urging both the Punjab and central governments to collaboratively resolve the issues, which include crop procurement delays and police actions on stubble burning. With the protests and blockades set to continue, pressure mounts on the Punjab government and Chief Minister Mann to find a solution before the unrest deepens.
Sources By Agencies
