Sukhbir Singh Badal condemned the police action against the farmers. (File)
Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal on Thursday lashed out at the Haryana government for trying to stop the "Delhi Chalo" march by farmers upset with the centre's new agricultural laws, calling the attempt "Punjab's 26/11".
"Today is Punjab's 26/11. We are witnessing the end of the right to democratic protest. @Akali_Dal condemns the Haryana govt & Centre for choosing to repress the peaceful farmer movement," tweeted Mr Badal whose party broke off an alliance with the ruling BJP over the new laws.
He also tweeted an appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi:
Thousands of farmers, some armed with sticks and swords, flung barricades into a river, threw bricks at cops and physically pushed vehicles as they were stopped by Haryana on their way to a protest march in Delhi.
After a two-hour clash on a bridge in which tear gas and water cannons were used, the farmers managed to cross the border into Haryana.
Ruled by the BJP, Haryana has been using heavy force to try and block farmers making their way from Punjab towards the capital in tractors and on foot for their two-day "Delhi Chalo" protest march against new farm laws that they fear will reduce their earnings and give more power to large retailers.
"The battle for the rights of Punjab farmers cannot be throttled by using water cannons against them. Our resolve will only strengthen further," Mr Badal said.
His wife Harsimrat Kaur Badal, who resigned as union minister when the laws were cleared by parliament, also condemned the Haryana government for trying to forcibly stop the farmers, saying it is a "murder of democracy".
"Murder of democracy on #ConstitutionDay! Farmers'' voices stifled, water cannons used on annadata! I appeal to PM @narendramodi ji to direct Hry CM @mlkhattar ji to let our farmers'' march on peacefully to convey their issues to Centre in Delhi. I stand in solidarity with them," she tweeted.