Farmers Movement Archive

BJP MLA beaten up, stripped by Punjab ‘farm protesters’

BATHINDA: A group of protesters, said to be farmers, threw a black-coloured liquid on the BJP MLA from Abohar on Saturday evening, allegedly thrashed him and tore his clothes when he was travelling to the venue of a scheduled press meet at Malout town in Muktsar district, Punjab. A police official fell to the ground while trying to save the legislator from the protesters’ ire. The melee continued for 15-20 minutes before police were able to rescue the MLA, Arun Narang, and take him to the safety of a shop about 100 metres from the BJP office. The BJP state unit chief sought President’s rule in Punjab, claiming there was a breakdown of law and order. When Narang reached Malout town at around 3.40pm, people alleged to be members of farm organisations BKU Ekta Sidhupur, BKU Lakhowal and BKU Kadian had gathered near the BJP office. Seeing this, police escorted Narang into a shop. According to witnesses, when the cops tried to get the MLA out of there, some in the crowd allegedly threw some black liquid on him. The protesters then vandalised the BJP office. “I do not know the protesters... They beat me and tore off my clothes. Police had to struggle to take me to a shop. I have apprised party leaders about the incident,” Narang told TOI. Punjab BJP president Ashwani Sharma, when contacted, claimed the law and order situation had worsened in the state. “The beating up of an elected representative is a clear pointer towards it. Capt Amarinder Singh should take moral responsibility for the incident and step down or his government should be dismissed and President’s rule imposed in the state as it has not only failed in protecting the law but is also promoting anti-social elements,” Sharma said. The farmers said that they had no intention of causing any physical harm to the MLA. The outfit’s general secretary, Harinder Singh Lakhowal, said, “We will look into the incident and find out who is behind all this.” Bathinda zone IGP Jaskaran Singh said appropriate legal action will be taken as per the complaint filed by the MLA. BJP politicians are running into farmers protesting against the Centre’s new farm laws wherever they try to hold political gatherings in Punjab. A day after laying siege to a hotel at Bathinda, where ex-minister Surjit Kumar Jyani had gone to take on the Congress government, farmers gheraoed on Saturday the PWD Rest House at Barnala, where BJP state vice-president Parveen Bansal had gone to address a press conference. Hundreds of BKU Ekta Ugrahan activists sat on the road and raised slogans against the Narendra Modi government. They were joined by activists of other farm organisations. Condemning the attack on Narang, the CM warned on Saturday of strict action against anyone trying to disturb the state’s peace. Capt Singh also directed DGP Dinkar Gupta to take strict and lawful action against those who had clashed with police personnel trying to rescue the MLA. BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh said the murderous attack on Narang had “exposed the complete collapse of law and order in Punjab.” Watch Farmers' protest: Angry protesters thrash BJP MLA Arun Narang, tear his clothes in Punjab

The Times of India

2021-03-28

India