Arhtiyas claim that they are being targeted for supporting the farmer’s protest. Apart from participating in the ongoing farmers’ protest at Singhu and Tikri border in Delhi, arhtiyas have been sending buses carrying protesters from across the state to the protest sites. They had also closed mandis as a protest for the three days from December 7 to December 9 participate in the protest at Delhi. Arhtiyas point to there being a general impression among government officials in Delhi, that they are the ones sponsoring the farmers’ agitation. They argue that this is a form on intimidation to make them end their support to the protest.
No. Arhtiyas have been participating in the protests, but they are not anyway sponsoring farmer’s agitation. “They (farmers) have never demanded any cash or kind help from us for their protests in Punjab for the past six months. Not even for the Delhi protest,” said Punjab Arhtiya Association President Ravinder Singh Cheema, adding that if they (farmers) will demand anything from us, “we will be happy to help them”.
The notices were served to 14 Arhtiyas and raids were conducted at the premises of seven. Most of them are office bearers of arhtiya associations at state and district level. The arhtiyas who were raided included Vijay Kalra (President, Punjab Arthiya Federation and Vice-Chairman of Punjab Mandi Board), Pawan Kumar Goyal (President of Samana Mandi), Jaswinder Singh Rana (Patiala district president of arhtiyas association), Manjinder Singh Walia (President, Nawanshahr Arhtiya Association), Haep Singh Ladda (President, Rajpura Arhtiya Association) and Kartar Singh & Amrik Singh (Rajpura arhtiyas). “Mostly those targeted are the ones who have been at the forefront in sending buses, vehicles full of arhtiyas and mandi labourers to dharna sites in Delhi and issuing statements to the press and who were quite active on November 26 to November 30,” said Cheema.
