Farmers Movement Archive

On farmers’ issue, BJP leadership has failed to show sincerity: Joshi

Chandigarh: Former cabinet minister and BJP leader Anil Joshi, on Saturday, criticised his party leadership in the state as well as in Delhi for failing to understand the pain of farmers and for not being able to build a consensus on farm laws. Joshi, a two-time former MLA from Amritsar North, said that senior leaders in his party need to shun the “Hath Yog” and show sincerity on the farmers’ cause if they have to remain alive in Punjab politics. Joshi told TOI, “When we have lost municipal bodies elections in Punjab badly due to farmers’ agitation, do you think they will allow us to contest assembly polls? If farmers have dug their heels at the Delhi border for the last six months, do you think they would budge now? If you cannot put across the issues of those who have shown faith in you, do you still think that you will survive in politics?” Urging the BJP government to listen to the farmers, Joshi said the farmers think that BJP leaders have a say at the top level and can resolve the issue, but they don’t know that a former cabinet minister doesn’t get a hearing at the state party president level. “It has been over six months now since the farmers are sitting at Delhi borders. Nearly 500 farmers, including our friends and family members, have become ‘shaheed’. There should be some pain,” said Joshi, former local bodies’ minister.

The Times of India

2021-06-06

Chandigarh