Farmers Movement Archive

Navjot Singh Sidhu faces farmers’ ire over ‘thirsty’ remark

Hundreds of farmers, including activists of employees’ unions, staged a protest and raised slogans against Punjab Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu when he arrived at Moga to preside over a party workers’ meeting today.When protesters tried to break the barricades of security forces to reach the meeting venue, the police resorted to mild cane-charge, forcing them to stay back under an overbridge on the national highway. Farmers had started protesting against Sidhu after he reportedly said “the thirsty walks to the well, not the otherwise”. He said this while expressing his desire to meet leaders of the farm unions.This is not for the first time that Sidhu, who started a campaign to hold party meetings at the district headquarters today, faced protests after assuming charge as the PCC chief. On July 20, his arrival was opposed at Khatkar Kalan where he had gone to pay tributes at the Bhagat Singh’s memorial. On July 22, he changed his route to reach Mehmoodpur village in Tarn Taran due to a protest by the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee. On July 24, when he went to Chamkaur Sahib in Ropar district, he faced yet another protest by farmers. Harjit Singh, a farmer, said they were protesting against Sidhu and the Congress for not fulfilling the poll promises made during the last Assembly elections.“Sidhu can’t take us for granted. He can’t garner votes by just cracking jokes,” he said. The agitating farmers alleged that “non-serious” politicians were trying to divert people’s attention from core issues. — TNS

The Tribune

2021-08-06

Moga