Farmers Movement Archive

Farm leaders named in FIR, but BJP blames Cong for Malout incident

JALANDHAR: Even as local office-bearers and activists of BKU (Ekta Sidhupur) have been named in the FIR registered after an assault on BJP MLA Arun Narang at Malout, Punjab BJP is insisting that the incumbent Congress “is behind the premeditated attack”. Addressing a press conference here to highlight the “failures of Captain Amarinder Singh-led government in last four years,” BJP’s Madan Mohan Mittal said that these were not farmers but Congress workers who attacked the MLA. When pointed out that the accused had been even named in the FIR and they were from farm groups, he reiterated that the Congress was behind the attack. Mittal was accompanied by another former minister Manoranjan Kalia and former chief parliamentary secretary K D Bhandari and other local BJP functionaries. He said the beating and stripping of the BJP MLA by was an extreme case. However, when asked if the mob violence in Punjab could be compared to mob violence and lynching in other states, he avoided a direct reply. When asked further that BJP remained silent on attack by a mob at farmers’ camp at Singhu border on January 29 in the presence of police, Mittal said he was not aware of the incident and added that “everything is not debatable”. Mittal said, “Narang is not just another MLA, he defeated Punjab Congress president Sunil Jakhar who could not digest the defeat.” He said Punjab Police were competent but their hands were also tied and they were acting as per government directions and failed to save Narang. Replying to a query he said the Punjab DGP was also responsible for the assault, along with the state government. Unprecedented security and barricading There were unprecedented security and barricading outside the hotel where BJP event was held. The stretch of quite busy road outside the hotel between two crossroads was completely closed and barricaded and people had to take long alternate routes. Identity cards of the journalists were also checked by the police. Even inside the hotel, police personnel were deployed and a deputy commissioner of police remained present at the venue. The barricading was lifted only after BJP functionaries left. Mittal also said in the press conference, on a lighter note, that two policemen remained deployed outside the room of the hotel where he was staying.

The Times of India

2021-03-31

Ludhiana