Farmers Movement Archive

Farm activists spare BJP’s Tiranga Yatra after SKM appeal

Chandigarh/Bathinda: The Haryana unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched its Tiranga Yatra on Sunday, even as Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), which is spearheading the ongoing agitation against he three farm laws, urged farmers from Haryana not to oppose the saffron party’s campaign. SKM said the BJP was using the national flag for political interests and as part of its “devious plans”, and the yatra was a conspiracy by the party to provoke farmers. The BJP’s yatra started from Bahal in Bhiwani and went to Loharu on the first day. State agriculture minister J P Dalal, who represents Loharu seat, had organised the rally, while Haryana BJP president Om Parkash Dhankar flagged it off. He even rode a tractor with the BJP workers on way from Behal to Loharu. This was the BJP’s first major political event in eight months of farmers’ agitation. The farmers had announced to obstruct the rally, but spared the event on instructions from SKM. Dhankar said: “This turnout is a mirror to our political detractors who misleaded the farmers. This Tiranga Yatra is a tribute to the martyrs of Kargil and other wars. We started this yatra with paying floral tributes to Shaheed Bhagat Singh. I dare the opposition parties who have ruled in the past to provide details of an agriculture produce other than wheat, paddy, and mustard oil. It is due to the present government’s efforts that farmers are getting MSP, even after the implementation of the three laws.” The SKM, while urging farmers to stay away from rally, said it wanted to ensure the dignity of the national flag, but added that all other programmes of BJP and JJP would continue to face opposition. Tiranga Yatra will continue till August 14. SKM functioanries Yogendra Yadav, Abhimanyu Kohad and Ravi Azad took to social media on Sunday to ask farmers not to oppose the yatra. Meanwhile, at the BJP event, Dhankar said the Tiranga Yatra will cover all 90 assembly constituencies of Haryana. Addressing the marchers assembled in a green belt, Dalal said Dhanakar had worked a lot for farmers’ welfare during his term as agriculture minister. Recounting the contribution of the BJP-JJP government, he mentioned the MSP on maize and other crops, “representation to all communities, and fairness in jobs”. Dhankar and Dalal praised the turnout but the single-colour tractors raised many eyebrows and created a doubt that these were sourced for the event especially. A few BJP workers drove their own tractors as well.

The Times of India

2021-08-02

Chandigarh