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Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia on Thursday slammed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab, accusing them of failing to fulfill their promises to farmers. Majithia pointed out that before coming to power, AAP had made numerous commitments to farmers, but none of them have been met.
This comes after the AAP government in Punjab removed protesting farmers on Wednesday night from the Shambu and Khanauri borders. Punjab Police also removed temporary structures erected by farmers at the protest site. 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 Police. "Before coming to power in Punjab, AAP had made many promises to farmers and did not fulfill any of them," said Majithia. He also criticised AAP for allowing farmers to build permanent structures at the Khanauri border, only to later remove them. Majithia alleged that AAP's support for farmers was merely a ploy to gain votes, and now that they're seeking votes for the Ludhiana West by-election, they're suddenly talking about industry. Majithia's scathing critique also extended to the law and order situation in Punjab, which he claimed has "collapsed." This, he argued, is the reason why industry is hesitant to invest in the state. "AAP allowed farmers to build permanent structures at Khanauri border... AAP supported farmers in the past to get votes but now when they want to get votes for Ludhiana West by-election, they are talking about industry... The law and order situation in Punjab has collapsed and that is why industry is not coming to Punjab...," added the SAD leader. Earlier on Thursday, farmers united under the banners of the All India Kisan Sabha and Bharatiya Kisan Union, staged a protest march to the residence of Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini in Karnal. Meanwhile, Punjab Minister Harpal Singh Cheema defended tha action against the protesting farmers and said that the action was taken to open Shambhu and Khanauri borders. Speaking to ANI, Cheema asserted that the farmers should stage a protest in Delhi or somewhere else as their demands are against the Central government. "The AAP government and the people of Punjab stood with the farmers when they protested against the three black laws. The demands of the farmers are against the Central government. It has been more than a year and the Shambhu and Khanauri borders are closed. The traders, and youths of Punjab are very upset. When the traders will do business, the youth will get employment and they will stay away from drugs," he said. Meanwhile, now, traffic movement has resumed at the Punjab-Haryana Shambhu border. Late yesterday evening, Punjab police cleared the area, removing the farmers along with the temporary structures they had set up. (ANI)
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