Violation Of Weekend Lockdown Won't Be Allowed: Punjab Chief Minister

Farmer leaders have alleged that the government imposed the lockdown to hide its failure in handling the coronavirus situation and wants to weaken the farmers' movement against the Centre's new farm laws.

Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Saturday reiterated that violation of the weekend lockdown in Punjab will not be allowed given the grim COVID-19 situation, even as 32 farmer unions took out protest marches against the restriction at several places in the state. Farmer leaders have alleged that the government imposed the lockdown to hide its failure in handling the coronavirus situation and wants to weaken the farmers' movement against the Centre's new farm laws. These restrictions are in place to save lives and not to "sabotage" the farmers' movement against the Centre's new farm laws, Mr Singh said and added that his government was also vehemently opposed to the legislations. "There are lives at stake, saving them is our priority, and it is the responsibility of every Punjabi to save them," the chief minister said, urging leaders of farmer unions Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) and BKU (Ekta Dakaounda) not to misinterpret his Friday comments.