SKM slams Punjab govt for detaining farmers amid paddy procurement crisis

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) has strongly condemned the Punjab Government and the Chandigarh Administration for detaining farmers, workers, commission agents (Aartiyas), and sheller owners who were protesting against the ongoing paddy procurement crisis.

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SKM criticized the heavy-handed police action that involved setting up barricades across the city to prevent a protest march towards the residence of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

In a statement SKM accused the authorities of violating the farmers' fundamental right to peaceful protest. "The right to peaceful protest is non-negotiable, and the attempts by the Punjab Government and Chandigarh Administration to stifle the voices of protesters are unacceptable," SKM said.

They demanded that the police barricades be immediately removed and that protesters be allowed to march to Chandigarh and present their demands to the government.