Farmers Movement Archive

AAP, SAD condemn assault on Bittu; question his intentions

Ludhiana: A day after Ludhiana MP Ravneet Singh Bittu was attacked when he had gone at the farmers’ protest site at Singhu border, several political parties have condemned the incident. But at the same time several leaders are questioning why in the first place Bittu went to the protest site and claimed that the attack reflected the sentiments of the farmers. Meanwhile, scores of Congress workers and leaders since Monday evening have started claiming that a leader of Aam Admi Party leader from Patti was among the attackers who manhandled Bittu. Gurdeep Singh Gosha, district president of Youth Akali Dal, Ludhiana, said, “Our party condemns any act of violence regardless of the victim being from any party. But this incident raises several questions on the intentions of Bittu as to why in the first place he went there when he knew that farmers had clearly warned leaders of all political parties from coming to the protest site. I hope that after this untoward incident MP Bittu and the Congress will realise that the farmers do not trust any of their leaders even if they try to stage drama by sitting at Jantar Mantar in front of the cameras. It is my sincere advice to Bittu that its will be better for him if he packs his bags and returns to Ludhiana and start serving Ludhianvis, who elected him as their MP. Otherwise, they too will also not allow him to enter the city.” Meanwhile, Lok Insaaf Party leader Sunny Kainth, who a few months back was manhandled outside MP Ravneet Singh Bittu’s Ludhiana home and his turban too was tossed, said, “Regardless of the fact that sometime back dozens of supporters of Bittu had beaten me up outside his house and removed my turban when I had gone to stage a peaceful protest there, I condemn the incident of tossing of Bittu’s turban as this is our sacred religious symbol given to us by our revered Gurus. So, even if its our rival’s turban, proper respect needs to be paid to it and I felt very pained after seeing what was happening to Bittu and such incidents should not take place.” According to Ahbaab Grewal, spokesperson of Aam Admi Party, “The incident of manhandling of MP Bittu is sad, but this is result of the politics that Bittu and his associates tried to play. What was the need for them to go there when they know that farmers would not like presence of political leaders who had been referring to them as Khalistanis. Whatever happened with Bittu was unfortunate, but it was he who himself made a situation like this that led to a scuffle. Why did he not leave the venue when he was constantly asked by the protesters.”

The Times of India

2021-01-26

Ludhiana