Chandigarh, Nov 26 (IANS): Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Badal on Thursday came down heavily against the BJP governments in Haryana and at the Centre for dealing "repressively" with the peacefully and democratically protesting farmers.
"I strongly condemn the repression and persecution launched against the farmers in Haryana," he said, adding: "The water cannon would not douse flames of democratic protest against injustice."
Badal said the Modi government "is treating Punjab as if it were not a part of the country".
"Are we not a part of India? Are farmers, traders and other common Punjabis not Indians?" he asked.
The Akali leader said the Centre was inflicting the "second economic blockade on Punjab out of sheer vendetta against Punjab farmers and that will hurt every Punjabi, be he a trader, a businessman, a farmer or an employee".