Mohali: Punjab Police on Saturday detained Aam Aadmi Party's state unit chief Bhagwant Mann and used water cannon to disperse party workers who were attempting to "gherao" the residence of Chief Minister Amarinder Singh at Siswan, in their protest against frequent power cuts in the state.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) protest was led by MP Bhagwant Mann wherein the party members shouted slogans against the state government over the issue of power shortage.
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In view of the protest, police deployment was strengthened with multi-layered barricades put up on the road leading to the chief minister's farmhouse.
AAP workers carrying party flags forced their way through the first layer of barricades. Police began using a water cannon to disperse them as they reached the second layer.
Besides MP Bhagwant Mann, police detained MLA Harpal Singh Cheema at the protest site in Mohali. AAP Punjab's official Twitter account put out a video of the state unit chief being taken away in a bus.
The demonstration comes in as Punjab witnesses worrying power shortages with urban and rural areas facing long hours of load shedding amid scorching heat.
In a bid to tackle the issue, the Punjab state government ordered a reduction in timings of state government offices and reduced power supply to high energy-consuming industries.
Previously, AAP leaders criticised the Congress government for having "failed" to provide 24-hour electricity supply to people at cheaper rates.
The opposition is attacking the CM Amarinder Singh-led government by accusing it of not providing sufficient electricity to consumers, especially to paddy growers for sowing crops.
Recently, Delhi CM and AAP's national head Arvind Kejriwal promised 300 units of free electricity in that state if his party wins the polls.
(With Agency Inputs)