Farmers Movement Archive

Anti-BJP protest in Kurukshetra: 60 farmers detained, freed

Kurukshetra: Protesting against the three central agri-marketing laws, hundreds of farmers stormed an Ambedkar Jayanti function of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in this district’s Thanesar city on Sunday. The venue was Saini Samaj Bhawan near Theme Park and the guest included Kurukshetra MP Nayab Singh Saini, Haryana sports minister Sandeep Singh, Thanesar legislator Subhash Sudha, Haryana BJP Scheduled Caste Morcha president Rameavtar Valmiki. The farmers had gathered under the banner of Haryana Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) (Charuni). The Kurukshetra district administration had made tight security arrangements such as barricading the venue and deploying a riot squad. When the farmers reached the venue, a team led by additional superintendent of police (ASP) Ravinder Singh Tomar talked to them and directed them to the designated rally ground near the Theme Park. Social distancing went for a toss at the BJP event in KurukshetraRaising slogans against the BJP and its government at the Haryana and Central government, the farmers crossed the barricades but police managed to stop them short of the venue. BKU Haryana’s Jasbir Singh Mamumajra said: "The government is acting biased. Why are the Covid-19 guidelines imposed on the farmers and general public not imposed on the BJP functions. The BJP function was huge and to oppose it was our right." Additional superintendent of police Ravinder said: "The farmers had promised to protest peacefully and not disturb the event, so we gave them a space in the Theme Park, but they jumped over the police barricades and we had to arrest 60, whom we, later, released on the magistrate’s orders. BJP leaders pose for a photograph at the party event on SundayThe BJP event followed no Covid-19 protocol. Of more than 200 visitors, none had put on a face mask.

The Times of India

2021-04-19

Chandigarh