Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi called on protesters to refrain from climbing over overhanging water tanks or blocking highways to pressure the state government to accept their requests.

“Anyone who goes up to the upper water tank, I will not accept their request. The FIR can be registered against him, ”Channi told Barnala.

“When I’m always available and ready to meet with every union member, what’s the need to protest? Climbing to the top of a water tank or blocking freeways is not the way to be heard. You have just disturbed the common man. I am aware that many employees have outstanding requests that need to be resolved. Come and meet me before the implementation of the code of conduct, ”he added.

Channi faced protests from various employee and unemployed unions during his visit to Barnala where he had to attend three different programs.

A group of unemployed teachers staged a protest near where he was to address a public rally near the Dana Mandi. They also launched slogans against the Congressional government demanding jobs. As soon as they started throwing slogans, plainclothes policemen arrested them, covering their mouths with their hands. In the melee, the turban of some demonstrators came off.

Security personnel took the teachers into a police van and then detained them, officials said.

Another group of unemployed teachers, including women, and contract workers from the National Health Mission also blocked the Bathinda-Chandigarh highway against the state government over their demands. The blockade led to a traffic jam, forcing the administration to divert traffic, they said. A brawl also broke out between protesters and police as cops attempted to pull them off the road. The police later forcibly remove them from the highway.

Meanwhile, Channi criticized the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and called on the people to eliminate them from the electoral scene in the upcoming State Assembly polls.

He alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former CM Capt Amarinder Singh and the Badals were “hand in hand to trade the interests of the Punjab be it agriculture, industry or the common man’s cause. “, according to an official statement.

Addressing a public rally, Channi called on the people to identify these “dubious politicians who are determined to emotionally exploit them to the end. “

He denounced AAP chief and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal for making “big claims” to provide financial aid of Rs 1,000 per month to every woman in the state, if elected. in power. Channi also challenged him to come out with facts and figures to show that this relief has been extended to the number of women in Delhi.

Likewise, Channi said the people of Punjab are wise enough and will not be betrayed this time by Kejriwal’s “false” promises, as he and his party have been “fully exposed” for “non-execution”. , which is evident from the fact that 11 out of 20 AAP deputies had already shifted their loyalty to other political parties ”.

The Chief Minister of Punjab also asked Kejriwal to clarify how many farmers have been granted the option of a loan waiver or getting free electricity in the agricultural sector in Delhi.

Training arms to SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal, Channi said the father-son duo and his wife Harsimrat Kaur Badal had “helped” to enact “draconian laws” at the Center. Channi further urged Badal to refrain from threatening police and civilian officers as they performed their duties with due diligence.

He challenged them to face the music for their “misdeeds” for a decade of “mismanaging unforgivable acts of sacrilege, in addition to the drug, transport and cable mafia which has all but depleted resources. of the State, thus enriching their personal coffers ”.

He said: “Now it is the turn of the cable mafia to be led by the badals proteges across the state, who have plundered the population by monopolizing this trade, thus depleting the financial resources of the State.”

Criticizing Amarinder Singh for expressing his gratitude to Prime Minister Modi for announcing the repeal of three agricultural laws, Channi said he did not understand how a true Punjabi can be happy with the decision since nearly 700 farmers have lost the land. life during the year-long turmoil at the Delhi borders and other parts of the state.