Farmers Movement Archive

Farmers oppose Dhankar’s Karnal visit, block highway

Karnal, June 20 Scores of farmers blocked the Karnal-Indri state highway in protest against the visit of state BJP president OP Dhankar to Jain temple here today evening. The police allegedly thrashed one of the protesters. In the morning, the farmers had protested outside the temple to oppose the visit of Dhankar, who was supposed to inaugurate a blood donation camp there. They dispersed after the district administration claimed that the BJP leader’s visit had been cancelled. But in the evening, Dhankar visited the temple. As soon as farmers learnt about it, they blocked the highway. Bhadur Singh Mehla, a leader of the BKU (Charuni), said: “The administration lied to us. They misled us into believing that Dhankar’s visit had been cancelled. Farmers will continue to oppose the visit of BJP and JJP leaders till the three farm laws are revoked.” The situation remained tense for an hour. Sadar police station SHO Baljeet Singh defused the situation and convinced farmers to lift the blockade. Commuters, meanwhile, had to face inconvenience. Protesting farmers have been opposing public functions of the BJP-JJP leaders in the state over the farm laws. Earlier, Dhankar and Karnal MP Sanjay Bhatia visited Kalpana Chawla Government Medical College, and distributed around 200 injections of black fungus among patients. “The BJP will train 16,000 volunteers to tackle the third wave of Covid. They will be deployed in rural areas and wards of the states,” said Dhankar. On the farmers’ agitation, he said the BJP always worked for the welfare of the farmers, but the agitation was politically motivated.

The Tribune

2021-06-21