Punjab CM flays Centre for intimidating ‘arhtiyas’ with motivated I-T raids

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 19

Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Saturday castigated the Centre for its intimidatory tactics against arhityas supporting the agitating farmers, and warned that such draconian measures will further aggravate the angst of the people against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Central government.

Terming the clearly motivated Income Tax (I-T) raids against some Punjab arhtiyas as an obvious pressure tactic to curb their democratic right and freedom, Amarinder said these oppressive actions will backfire against the ruling BJP.

The Chief Minister said it was evident that having failed to persuade, mislead and divide the farmers into ending their prolonged protest against the black Farm Laws, the central government was now trying to weaken their struggle by targetting the arhtiyas, who have been actively supporting the agitation since Day 1.

The I-T raids were conducted at the premises of several big arthityas of Punjab within a span of just four days of issuing notices, without waiting for responses to the notices, Amarinder noted, dubbing it a clear debasement of the due process of law. Even the local police were not informed or taken into confidence, as is the normal procedure, and instead, the CRPF was used to provide security during the raids by the I-T teams, he pointed out.

“What is this if not a clear case of vendetta politics by the Centre, which is hell-bent on demolishing the farmers’ protest by hook or by crook?” asked the Chief Minister.

Among the victims of the night-long raids, which were conducted in the presence of 2 bus-loads each of CRPF personnel, were Vijay Kalra (president Punjab Arthiya Association), Pawan Kumar Goyal (president Samana Mandi), Jaswinder Singh Rana (Patiala Dist president), Manjinder Singh Walia (president Nawanshahr), Hardeep Singh Ladda (president Rajpura) and Kartar Singh and Amrik Singh (arthiyas Rajpura). A total of 14 arhtiyas across Punjab have received notices from the I-T department.

“These bullying actions of the government do not augur well for the world’s largest democracy,” he added.

Pointing out that even the Supreme Court had upheld the people’s right to protest peacefully, the Chief Minister said the central government’s actions amounted to gross violation of the apex court’s directions and the spirit of the Constitution, which granted every citizen the right to raise his voice.

Amarinder reiterated his appeal to the Central government not to stand on ego on the issue but to revoke the farm laws and start afresh with a meaningful dialogue with the farmers and all other stakeholders to come out with more progressive reform legislations that are in the interest of all.