Farmers in Punjab intensify protests against government actions

Farmers' groups have announced plans to escalate their protests after the Punjab government arrested 28 farmer leaders during a meeting. The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) and the Samyukt Kisan Morcha-Non Political (SKM-NP) accused both the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the national level of prioritizing corporate interests over farmers' rights. The arrests happened as the farmers attempted to discuss the demand for a legal Minimum Support Price (MSP) with Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Gurdeep Singh Chahal, a spokesperson for the Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta-Sidhupur), reported that the arrested leaders, including Jagjit Singh Dallewal, have not eaten since their detention. Chahal described the police actions as unprecedented, even comparing them to oppressive measures seen during colonial times. He stated that many activists are afraid to return home due to fears of further arrests. Pavel Kussa, from the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan), echoed these sentiments and critiqued the Punjab government's recent comments about the protests hindering corporate investments. In a joint statement, the SKM-NP and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha condemned the Punjab government for betraying farmers by allowing the arrests. They called on the people of Punjab to support the farmers in their struggle for justice. The SKM also criticized the AAP for collaborating with corporate interests, alleging a direct link between top AAP leaders' meetings with industrialists and the recent police actions against farmer leaders.