Tribune News Service
Malout (Muktsar), August 23
A large number of farmers today protested against SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal at Malout town, where he had come to hold meetings under his ‘Gall Punjab Di’ programme.
Opposing the political activity when the ‘Kisan Andolan’ is underway against the three agriculture laws, farmers showed black flags to Sukhbir, tore his hoardings and raised slogans against him. The situation became tense when protesters blocked the main entrance to a marriage palace on Fazilka Road, where Sukhbir was holding a meeting with the party’s rural circle presidents and booth-level committee workers.
A delegation of farmers also went inside to meet the SAD president, but to no avail. After over an hour, cops escorted Sukhbir out of the palace. Earlier, farmers gathered at the grain market to ask Sukhbir some questions. However, they were not allowed to meet him. When Sukhbir left the venue, irate farmers entered the ‘pandal’ and vandalised chairs and hoardings.
On the protest, Sukhbir said: “I told the farmers the SAD is the only party which has raised its voice against the farm laws. The Congress and AAP have failed to do raise their issues. However, some people sent by the Congress and AAP protested against us.”
The SAD president today condemned the Centre’s specifications for paddy procurement, saying this was part of a conspiracy to make Punjab’s paddy unfit for procurement. He blamed Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh for not taking up the matter with the Centre when it was at a decision-making stage.
“We asked Sukhbir to cancel political programmes until the date for the elections is announced. The political activity is affecting the ongoing stir against the farm laws.” Nirmal Singh Jasseana, a farmer leader
Farmers said they would hold a flag march in Gidderbaha town on Tuesday, where Sukhbir is scheduled to hold a similar programme. Sukhbir during his tour today announced party’s general secretary Harpreet Singh as SAD candidate from Malout.
At Malout, farmers oppose Sukhbir Badal's poll events
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