Bathinda: Farmer unions, along with employee and unemployed groups, staged widespread protests across Punjab on Saturday against the police action on members of the apprenticeship linemen union in Patiala. Protesters burned effigies of the state government in several villages across the Malwa region and warned the Aam Aadmi Party-led regime against 'suppressing' agitations, stating that such measures could trigger public backlash in the run-up to the assembly polls.
Background of the Protests
The protests followed a lathicharge on Friday, when police stopped agitating linemen from locking the gates of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) headquarters in Patiala. The ITI-trained apprentices have been demanding regular jobs for a long time, and their agitation has gained momentum in recent weeks.
Farmer Union Leaders Speak Out
BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) president Joginder Singh Ugrahan said that protests 'cannot be crushed through force', asserting that those braving extreme heat for livelihoods would not be deterred by baton charge. He emphasized that farmer unions would fully back the apprentices' agitation and called for coordinated protests across villages in the region.
Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) convener Jagjit Singh Dallewal termed the police action as exposing the 'true face' of a government elected on the plank of change. He added that farmers would not tolerate such treatment of unemployed youth and warned of serious consequences.
BKU (Ekta Dakaunda) president Manjit Singh Dhaner alleged that the police acted 'inhumanly', stating that there are established protocols to disperse protesters, which were not followed. He demanded accountability for the excessive force used.
Support from Teacher Bodies and Unemployed Unions
Teacher bodies and unemployed unions, including the Democratic Teachers Front and Berojgar Sanjha Morcha, also condemned the police action and extended their support for the demand of recruitment of assistant linemen in PSPCL. They called for immediate measures to address the grievances of the unemployed youth.
Government Response Lacking
Punjab Power Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sondh did not respond to calls and text messages seeking comment. Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, who was heading meetings with employees and unemployed unions, was also not reachable. An AAP spokesperson, Neel Garg, refused to comment on the matter, leaving the government's stance unclear.
The protests are expected to continue as farmer unions and other groups plan further actions to press for the apprentices' demands and against the police crackdown.
