Farmers removed from Shambhu border in Punjab: Why there a major shift in AAP's stance towards farming community?

The farmers' agitation has been ongoing for the past year at the Shambhu and Khanauri border. Roads were closed, and the farmers remained steadfast in their demands for rights. However, a sudden turn of events occurred when the Punjab Police took action with bulldozers, uprooting tents and forcibly removing the farmers. 

Protest leaders were taken into custody, raising questions about why the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), once a staunch supporter of the farmers, suddenly turned against them. Was there pressure on the Punjab government, or was it a fear of an economic crisis?

The scene at the border has dramatically changed in the last 24 hours. Clear paths are now visible on the roads where farmers had stood for months. The government argues that this action was necessary due to the heavy losses the state's economy was incurring. 

Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that the closed roads had a direct impact on trade and employment in Punjab. Additionally, MP Malvinder Singh said that the border's closure was affecting investment and tourism, prompting the government to take decisive steps.

The Aam Aadmi Party, which previously supported farmers during protests in Delhi, has now begun to suppress their voices in Punjab. Leaders who once identified themselves as the servants of the farmers are now forcibly removing them. 

During the farmers' movement in Delhi, the AAP government positioned itself as a supporter, but now, in its own governance in Punjab, it seems disconnected from the farmers' plight. This has led to questions about the AAP government's inconsistent stance towards the farming community.

Leaders in Punjab have expressed concerns over the state's revenue situation, indicating that the prolonged protests were adversely affecting business and employment. 

The government appeared to be apprehensive that a halt in investment could stifle the state's progress. Consequently, a strict measure was taken overnight. This reflects a major shift in the government's approach to the farmers' movement.

Prakash Kumar Pandey