Khanna had announced that he would pick the grains from the godowns of FCI in the grain market and distribute it among the poor. A large number of poor had gathered at the market to get the grains. Khanna had issued a statement yesterday that despite the Supreme Court of India giving clear directions to the Union government and its agriculture minister Sharad Pawar that the foodgrains rotting inside and outside the godowns is to be distributed among the poor, the Centre is yet to act on the directions. He said that since the government did not take any action, he will do it by visiting the godowns and distribute the grain among the poor. But the district police arrested him little before noon and took him to the police lines and released late in the afternoon.
After his release, Khanna said he would continue his efforts to enter the godowns for distributing the grains among the poor. Meanwhile, the BJP Cabinet minister and MLA from Hoshiarpur, Tikshan Sood had said in a press conference yesterday that the party had nothing to do with Khanna’s statement.