SKM To 'Burn CM Mann Effigies' Amid 'Mega Protest': 'Agitation In 18 Districts, March To Chandigarh'

After several leaders from SKM were detained following a meeting with Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, a farmer leader has said that the farmer protesters will burn effigies of the chief minister.

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) is marching towards Chandigarh from Punjab today (Wednesday). Ahead of this, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said that there would be programmes in 18 districts. In Amritsar alone, he added, they would burn effigies of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

Today's program will be done at hundreds of locations across Punjab. Pandher said that SKM's Punjab Union leader was detained along with the Kisan Majdoor Morcha leader. He said the program was “against human rights violations of farmers”. He hoped it would be peaceful and demanded that the detained farmers be released.

Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee leader Gurbachan Singh Chhaba strongly criticised Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, accusing him of inciting people. He also condemned CM Mann for walking out of the meeting with farmers midway on Mondy, stating that this was the first time they had seen a Chief Minister abandon a meeting.

The SKM is a group of 37 farmers' unions, the leaders alleged, the that “midnight raids” occurred just hours after the meeting, and the farmers’ body was quoted as saying that CM Mann was angry and he just "walked out" without any provocation.

Mann asked whether the farmers would still proceed with their March 5 march, and they confirmed they would, a government functionary was cited by The Indian Express. It was clear that they had no intention of calling off their protest. Everyone present felt that they took two hours of the CM’s time, yet the meeting did nothing to prevent the march,” the official was quoted by the news outlet.

Protest Remains Peaceful

However, the police said that the SKM protest march proceeded towards Chandigarh on Wednesday, and Punjab Police tightened security to prevent protestors from reaching the city.

Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Ropar Range Harcharan Singh Bhullar said, “Wherever the farmers have come, police in that area have stopped them there. They are sitting there at the side peacefully. Traffic is normal across Punjab. They will not be allowed to reach Chandigarh at any cost. We have tight security.”