Pan-India ‘Chakka Jam’ was held on Saturday called by farmer unions which stayed for three-hours-long and passed peacefully. Farmer unions blocked national and state highways between 12 noon and 3 pm, to show their resentment against the internet ban in areas near the agitation sites, harassment allegedly meted out to them by authorities and other issues.
During the Chakka Jam protest in Ludhiana, a flag was seen on a tractor with a portrait resembling Sikh extremist Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, a video was shared by news agency ANI.
Condemning the incident, BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia has questioned Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh of what he is doing.
"A flag of Khalistani terrorist Bhindranwale at chakka jam protest in Ludhiana. What is Captain Amarinder Singh doing? Law and Order have collapsed in Punjab," Bhatia said in a tweet.
However, the time, date or place of the video has not been confirmed, reported Times Now.
Who was Bhindranwale?
Bhindranwale, was the leader of the Sikh religious sect Damdami Taksal, was killed along with his armed followers during 'Operation Blue Star' launched by Indian Army at Golden Temple Complex in June 1984. He and his followers invaded Harmandir Sahib and armed Sikh memorial Akal Takht. It is alleged that they were controlling militant activities in Punjab from the shrine.
Bhindranwale was nationally noticed after his involvement in the 1978 Sikh-Nirankari clash.
Thousands of farmers from Haryana, Punjab and parts of Uttar Pradesh have been protesting since late November 2020 at various Delhi's borders, demanding to scrap the three farm bills passed by the Centre.
The three farm laws are - Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.
Apprehending that these laws would pave the way for the dismantling of the minimum support price (MSP) system, the protesting farmers believe that these laws will leave them at the "mercy" of big corporates and they will lose their lands to them. However, the government has maintained its stand by backing the laws and claim that the new laws will bring better opportunities to farmers, introduce new technologies in agriculture, increase their income and bring revolutionary changes in Indian farming sector.