Sukhbir Badal among 15 Akali Dal leaders detained by Delhi Police over farm laws protests
15 leaders of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), including party chief Sukhbir Badal and former Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal have been detained by Delhi Police over protests leading to Parliament against farm laws. The detained leaders have been taken to Sansad Marg Police Station.
SAD was protesting and marching on Friday towards Parliament from Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib to mark completion of one year since government enacted the three controversial farm laws. Police personnel were deployed across Delhi ahead of the march on Friday. According to Delhi Police officials, the protest by SAD is being carried out without any permission.
SAD tweeted early on Friday that all Delhi borders have been sealed and vehicles from Punjab were being stopped by security personnel. “Punjabis are being told that our entry has been restricted. Our peaceful voices have seemingly scared the powers that be.”
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Before detention, Badal alleged that his party workers were beaten and their vehicles were attacked by the police. “A peaceful protest was stopped. We’ve come here to give a message to PM Modi that not only Punjab but entire country is against his government.”
The “Black Friday” protest under Sukhbir Badal and Harsimrat Kaur Badal were earlier assured to be peaceful by SAD general secretary Prem Singh Chandumajra. He had said, “The march will be peaceful. We will give a memorandum to the government to repeal the three farm Laws. Even if we don’t get permission to protest, we will protest peacefully and give our memorandum.”
Citing the Covid-19 pandemic, Delhi Police had sent a notice to Sukhbir Singh Badal and spokesperson Daljit Singh Cheema stating that protest march would not be permitted in Delhi, but the SAD leaders chose to continue with the march. “Protest march led by Shiromani Akali Dal from Gurudwara Rakab Ganj to Parliament to be held today, is not permitted in view of existing guidelines to prevent and control virus spread. Section 144 has been imposed in the New Delhi district,” Delhi Police had said.
