Punjab CM’s effigy burnt in protest against detention of farmers

Protesters set fire to an effigy of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann in Mannargudi in Tiruvarur district on Saturday condemning the recent arrest of farmers’ leaders, including Coordination Committee president P.R.Pandian, who were staging protest demonstrations at Shambu border in Punjab in support of their demands.

Protesters set fire to an effigy of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann in Mannargudi in Tiruvarur district on Saturday condemning the recent arrest of farmers’ leaders, including Coordination Committee president P.R.Pandian, who were staging protest demonstrations at Shambu border in Punjab in support of their demands.

The demonstrators, owning their allegiance to the Tamil Nadu Coordination Committee of All Farmers’ Associations, assembled near the Periyar Statue in Mannargudi on Saturday morning and staged a protest. Suddenly, they set fire to the effigy of the Aam Aadmi Party leader and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann.

In Tiruchi, P. Ayyakannu, President of the Tamil Nadu unit of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political), along with members of the organisation, staged a protest outside his residence in the city condemning the police crackdown on farmers on Punjab–Haryana border. During the protest, the farmers burned an effigy of Mr. Mann and raised slogans against the state’s handling of the protests.

“It is undemocratic to arrest farmer leaders, including P.R. Pandian, a key coordinator of the SKM (Non-Political) Tamil Nadu chapter. Several farmer leaders who are arrested were actively involved in ongoing discussions with the Union Government regarding the demand for a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) and the waiver of farm loans,” Mr.Ayyakannu said while speaking to reporters.

In Sirkazhi taluk in Mayiladuthurai district, a group of farmers staged a protest in front of the head post office, condemning the arrest of farmer leader Mr. Pandian. Protesters claimed that he was arrested by Punjab police while heading to support the farmers’ protest in Punjab. The protesters demanded Pandian’s immediate release and called for protection for farmers protesting in Punjab.