As BJP leaders in Bathinda, Kotkapura, Fazilka and Jalandhar from Punjab watched a live screening of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s interaction with farmers on Friday, events in these districts faced protests from agitator farmers.
In Bathinda, a group of farmers ransacked the event site on Friday, leaving at least five party workers injured, police said. However, some farmers in the area claimed that behind the incident there were anti-social elements and not peasants. The event in Bathinda had to conclude within 15 minutes of its start.
Police had to resort to lathi-charge outside the home of BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia in Jalandhar during the screening program.
Almost four farmers were injured during the police action. The Kotkapura program ended in 30 minutes when farmers arrived raising slogans against the BJP. In Fazilka, farmers displayed black flags to the leaders of the Surjit Kumar Jyani party.
BATHINDA
The BJP event at Bathinda’s Ram Chandra Market on Amrik Singh Street was interrupted when protesters entered the venue raising slogans.
BJP District President Vinod Kumar Binta said: “We had pitched a tent near my office in the Ram Chandra market. We had to celebrate the birthday of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and also listen to the Prime Minister live. We had just started the program when the peasants entered the tent and began raising slogans against us, threw down the chairs and even damaged the image of the former prime minister. We had no choice but to leave the place. In democracy, if they have the right to protest, even we have the right to organize any program in a peaceful way. I, along with other BJP leaders, went to SSP Bathinda and informed them of the matter. But we have not yet submitted a written complaint. “
Binta said the co-convener of the BJP legal cell, Ravinder Gupta, was among those who suffered injuries. Gupta, he said, received 22 stitches on the leg. Police rushed to the scene and used a light baton charge to control the situation, BJP leaders said.
Sources said BJP workers and farmers even raised opposing slogans and mistreated each other. However, the police officers made the BJP team leave the site and shortly afterwards the party workers themselves also removed their tent from the site.
In video footage of the incident, protesters were seen smashing chairs, throwing up BJP flags and raising slogans such as ‘Modi Sarkar Murdabad’, ‘Kale Kanoon Radd Karo’.
While the police had barricaded the road leading to the site, members of the BKU (Ugrahan) and Dodhi (dairy) Union, Bathinda unit, arrived in large numbers at the site.
Jaspal Singh, BKU (Ugrahan) bloc president, Bhagta Bhai Ka area, said: “Our members protested and raised slogans, we removed the barricades to get close to the place, but none of us entered. The protesters who entered were not our members because we do not believe in violence. It must have been the BJP men themselves who had joined our protest and then broke chairs to defame us. However, we will protest against all BJP leaders and will not let their program happen if we find out. We said this not once, but repeatedly. We are not bothered by complaints from the police. “
Motha Singh, general secretary of BKU (Ugrahan), Bathinda unit, said: “They intentionally organized a program in a public place by setting up a tent to invite protest. They are creating situations in Punjab where tension can rise. “
Union workers said that prior to the event, BJP leader Harjeet Singh Grewal was rumored to attend. Grewal has in the past spoken in favor of Acts in Delhi. Binta, however, said: “Grewal is still in Delhi, someone had spread the rumor about his visit.”
JALANDHAR
In Jalandhar, members of BKU (Rajewal) protested outside the home of former Punjab minister Manoranjan Kalia. While trying to break through the barricades, the police used force, resulting in some four farmers suffering minor injuries. The turbans of some peasants were thrown and dropped during the scuffle with police personnel as they tried to break through barricades.
The union organized a protest in the three places of the city against the BJP and also gheraoed the main office of the party.
BKU (Rajewal) Secretary General Kulwinder Singh said they will not tolerate excessive use of force by Punjab police.
DCP (law and order) Balkar Singh said that the police were only doing what they had to do to maintain law and order. He denied the use of excessive force.
KOTKAPURA
In Kotkapura, in the Faridkot district, the day’s event was organized in Aggarwal Dharamshala. Sunita Garg, general secretary of Punjab BJP, had organized the program. After the BKU (Ugrahan) members spoke slogans again, Garg and others had to be removed from the scene.
The police also used mild force to disperse the protesters. Garg said, “Why can’t we peacefully pay tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Bihar Vajpayee and also listen to our Prime Minister?”
When asked which farmers he was speaking for were protesting off-site, he said: “It was not the farmers, but the SAD, Congress and AAP workers with union flags. They are trying to create unrest in Punjab because people have forgotten the real problems like deaths from illicit liquor, the mining mafia, etc. For the past 3 months, dharna has also been organized outside my home. As we knew they were SAD, congressional workers, we burned effigies of Sukhbir Badal and Captain Amarinder Singh near my home to present our protest.
FAZILKA
In Fazilka, a program to celebrate the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Vajpayee was organized in Shteerwala village, where Surjit Kumar Jyani, chairman of the 8-member BJP panel, was invited to speak with farmers. However, the farmers showed Jyani black flags. The protesters even argued with Jyani about agricultural laws.
BJP National Secretary General Tarun Chugh said: “Total anarchy prevails in Punjab, where law and order are in the hands of thugs and the police have become a silent and defenseless bystander.”
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