Farmers Movement Archive

Event venues turn protest sites

Bathinda/Jalandhar/Kaithal: There were tense moments between protesting farmers and BJP activists in Punjab and Haryana on Friday when functions held to mark the 96th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal BihariVajpayee became venues of protest. The main events where there was disruption, and even minor scuffles, were held at Punjab’s Bathinda, Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur and Haryana’s Kaithal. In Bathinda, situation turned tense when a score of farmers broke police barricades and barged into an event organised by the BJP. The saffron party had to wind up the programme midway as the farm activists allegedly vandalised the venue and damaged chairs. The BJP activists held a protest against farmers, who are protesting against the three farm laws brought by central government, and even burnt an effigy of the state government. Bathinda SSP Bhupinderjit Singh Virk rushed to the spot to diffuse the situation as the police had a tough time in controlling situation. This was the first violent act during the ongoing farmers’ struggle, barring an incident of windowpanes of BJP Punjab president Ashwani Sharma’s vehicle damaged at a toll plaza in Hoshiarpur district on October 12. BJP Bathinda district urban president Vinod Kumar Binta said, “Party activists had assembled to pay homage to Vajpayee, but the farmers barged into the programme and police did nothing to stop them.” BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) district Bathinda secretary Mothu Singh Kotda said, “When farmers across India are holding protests, BJP leaders are celebrating. This is intolerable. We will not allow BJP to rub salt into the wounds of farmers by letting them hold programmes... farmers did not damage the chairs, but BJP activists did it to defame them (farmers). We do not believe in violence.” Bathinda SSP Bhupinderjit Singh Virk said police are looking into the incident. In Jalandhar, farm activists protested outside three venues of BJP functions. The situation turned unsavoury outside the residence of former BJP minister Manoranjan Kalia, when farmers breached barricades and police resorted to mild lathicharge. Farmers staged a dharna outside Kalia’s residence, raising slogans against the Union government and the farm laws. BJP’s two other programmes were held at the local BJP office and in Jalandhar Cantt. Farmers protested outside both the venues. DCP Balkar Singh said that police had to use force against farmers when a situation arose due to commotion after barricades were broken. In the melee, some turbans were also tossed. In Mukerian, when the protesters entered the venue of BJP function, which had already ended, some workers who were still there scaled the rear wall to escape and were chased by farmers carrying black flags. Haryana minister Kamlesh Dhanda and JJP’s Guhla MLA Ishwar Singh were shown black flags during their visit to Kaithal. Dhanda faced opposition on the Hisar-Chandigarh highway in Kalayat segment as farmers tried to stop her convoy, forcing police to form a human chain to facilitate the movement of her cavalcade. Some farmers even tried to come in front of her vehicle but were removed by her security guards. The JJP leader had to leave the function on the occasion of ‘Sushasan Diwas’ midway owing to mass protest and had to be escorted out of the venue by the police. Farmers broke open the lock of DAV college, the venue of function, gate and even overpowered cops deputed on duty. Haryana farmers have been showing black flags to every leader who is supporting the BJP government and had even dug up the helipad of deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala in Jind on Thursday, forcing him to cancel his programme.

The Times of India

2020-12-26

Chandigarh