New Delhi: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal and former Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal were detained by the Delhi Police on Friday, September 17, as they led a protest march in the national capital to mark one year since the Union government passed the three farm laws.
The SAD, which walked out of the ruling NDA coalition last year in protest against the farm laws, is observing September 17 as “Black Day.” It had been the BJP’s oldest ally.
The protest march was taken out from Gurudwara Rakab Ganj to the parliament house. Badal told reporters that SAD members were lathicharged upon by police, Indian Express has reported.
“We’ve come here to give a message to PM Modi that not only Punjab but entire country is against his government,” he told ANI.
Badal also tweeted multiple times as the rally progressed. “Let’s unite to mark this day as the beginning of a renewed revolt to bring justice for farmers,” Badal wrote.
When dictatorship is a fact, revolution is a duty! The arrogant Central Government can’t impose the anti-farmer laws on farmers. The Akali Dal is proud to be the party of farmers, and we’ll keep raising our voice against the black laws. #KhatirKisaniDatteAkali pic.twitter.com/ZPEMllTIj8
— Shiromani Akali Dal (@Akali_Dal_) September 17, 2021
Annadatas work hard to feed us, and Akali Dal won’t let BJP succeed in its anti-farmer agenda. Today, thousands of people will be marching from Gurudwara Sri Rakabganj Sahib to the Parliament House as a show of public will against the anti-farmer laws. #KhatirKisaniDatteAkali pic.twitter.com/7t3I60qteI
Advertisement— Shiromani Akali Dal (@Akali_Dal_) September 17, 2021
Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Deepak Yadav said 17 party leaders were detained at Parliament Street police station for violation of COVID-19 guidelines. They were subsequently released.
Former Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal, who resigned from the government last year over the farm laws, said in a tweet that the massive participation in the protest march shows the public anger.
“Farmers have been protesting at the Delhi border for a year, but the Centre is keen on quashing them. We are proud to have quit the NDA. Akali Dal will continue to resist despotism,” she added.
Alleging that the Delhi Police tried to stop their protest march, SAD spokesperson Daljit Singh Cheema said, “It is an undeclared emergency in New Delhi.”
The party had also tweeted through its official handle that Punjabis and their vehicles were bring stopped from joining the protest earlier in the morning.
All Delhi borders have been sealed and Punjab vehicles are being stopped. While all others pass, Punjabis are being told that our entry has been restricted. Our peaceful voices have seemingly scared the powers that be.@News18Punjab @ZeePunjabHH @DainikBhaskar @IndianExpress @ANI pic.twitter.com/KSTjgT9f4U
Advertisement— Shiromani Akali Dal (@Akali_Dal_) September 16, 2021
Farmers from across India and mainly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, have been protesting at Delhi’s borders against the Union government’s three farm laws for over nine months now.
The protesting farmers have been demanding the repeal of the laws which they feel will do away with the MSP system, leaving them at the mercy of big corporations. Since early January 2021, the Union government has not conducted talks with farmers to solve the impasse.
(With PTI inputs)
