Lucknow: The National Working Committee of the All India People’s Front (AIPF) has strongly condemned the arrest and detention of farmer leaders ahead of a planned protest in Bhubaneswar.
The protest, organized by the Krushak Navnirman Sangathan, was scheduled to take place outside the Odisha Assembly, focusing on key agrarian issues including a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) and prevention of land displacement.
According to AIPF, several prominent leaders were detained prior to the demonstration, including Rakesh Tikait, Sudhakar Singh, AIPF National Vice President Vijay Singh, and KNS Odisha Convener Akshay Bhai, along with dozens of other activists.
While Rakesh Tikait and Sudhakar Singh were reportedly released later in the evening, several others remain in custody and have been sent to jail.
The All India People’s Front criticized the move, calling it an attack on democratic rights and accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party government in Odisha of suppressing dissent to favor corporate interests.
In its statement, AIPF urged the state government to refrain from what it termed as “repressive actions” and demanded the unconditional release of all detained leaders. The organization also appealed to democratic forces and political parties across the country to stand united against such actions.
The incident has sparked concerns over the handling of farmers’ protests and raised questions about the state’s approach to addressing agrarian demands through dialogue and democratic engagement.
