Farmers Movement Archive

After Punjab BJP legislator is thrashed, BKU issues a clarification

The Bharatiya Kisan Union’s (BKU) spokesperson Rakesh Tikait said on Sunday his organisation was not involved in the thrashing of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator from Punjab Arun Narang and alleged it was done by the party itself to defame farmers, who have been protesting against the Centre’s three new farm laws for more than four months now. “Our people showed black flags but were not involved in this incident,” Tikait was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.Narang, a legislator from Abohar municipality in Punjab’s Fazilka district, was allegedly beaten up by a group of protesting farmers in the Malout area of the Muktsar district on Saturday. He went there with a few local leaders to address a press conference. A video, which has been doing the rounds on social media, purportedly showed the BJP leader in torn clothes being taken to a safe place by police personnel. Narang, on being asked about whether has approached the police, told PTI that he will first speak to the party leadership over this matter.Meanwhile, the Muktsar Police on Sunday booked BKU (Sidhupur) Muktsar president Sukhdev Singh and six others for attempting to murder Narang. Around 200-250 unidentified people have also been booked in connection with this incident.Our people were not involved (in thrashing a BJP MLA in Punjab's Muktsar). Our people showed black flags but were not involved in this incident. On the contrary, it was done by their people to defame farmers: Bhartiya Kisan Union (Arajnaitik) leader Rakesh Tikait https://t.co/UXIdVyCx9D pic.twitter.com/scPGoyda5lPolitical parties in Punjab, including the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the ruling Congress party, condemned the attack on Narang and demanded action against those involved. Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh while condemning the incident also warned of strict action against those trying to create disturbance in the state and urged the farmers to not involve themselves in such a violent act.The BJP has held the Punjab government responsible for the attack on its legislator and also demanded exemplary action against culprits. Issuing a statement, the party said, “The BJP condemns this incident that happened under the Congress government’s protection. The Amarinder Singh government of the Congress is directly responsible for it.” Several BJP leaders on Sunday had staged a sit-in protest outside the residence of the chief minister and alleged that the law and order situation in Punjab has failed.

Hindustan Times

28-03-2021

India