Chandigarh, March 21 -- Amid the crackdown against the protesting farmers, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) as well as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday flayed the state government while the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) accused the Opposition of shedding crocodile tears.

Former deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal stated that it was for the first time that farmer leaders were called for talks by the state and the central governments and then lathi-charged and arrested. "The AAP government has also gone back on its commitment to engage with the farmers to find a resolution to their grievances. The SAD workers should stand in solidarity with the farmers," he said.

"Kejriwal has taken over as the real CM of Punjab. It is under...