Farmers Movement Archive

BJP Rajya Sabha MP faces protesting farmers’ wrath in Hisar

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Rajya Sabha MP Ram Chander Jangra on Friday faced farmers’ ire at Hisar’s Narnaund town in Haryana where he had gone to inaugurate a community centre (dharamshala). The MP reportedly called the protesters “jobless alcoholics from villages”. Hundreds of farmers gathered near the venue carrying black flags and chanted slogans against the MP. In a scuffle between the Haryana police and farmers protesting against the centre’s three contentious farm laws, the windshield of the MP’s car was also smashed, officials said.The MP accused the farmers of smashing the windshield of his car while the protesters blamed the police. In this entire incident, a farmer identified as Kuldeep Singh of Satrod Khurd village in Hisar district sustained injuries and the protesters rushed him to a nearby hospital where his condition is said to be critical. Few policemen also got injured.A heavy police force was deployed to prevent the farmers from reaching the area but police failed to stop the huge crowd. The farmers also faced heat from the attendees supporting Jangra and both sides chanted slogans against each other, officials said. The Narnaund police have booked three farmers identified as Harsh Deep Gill, Kailash and Sudhir of the district and 20 others under sections 147, 149, 148, 341, 186, 353, 427 and 120-B of the Indian penal code (IPC) for vandalising Jangra’s car. The farmers have launched an indefinite dharna outside the Narnaund police station demanding withdrawal of cases.Farm leader Vikas Sisar, said they were protesting peacefully against MP Jangra and some of his attendees provoked the farmers.“ The people accompanying the MP had thrashed our protestors in which he got injured and is undergoing treatment at Hisar hospital. We have pitched tents at the police station and a large number of farmers will reach here at 11 am to gherao it,” he added.Hansi SP Nitika Gehlout said the farmers protested the MP’s visit and his car’s windshield was damaged in the scuffle.“ We have not resorted to lathi-charge and a protester fell unconscious following which he was rushed to Jindal hospital in Hisar. He was suffering from illness,” the SP added. On Thursday also, the BJP MP faced a similar protest in Rohtak where he had gone to attend a Diwali program. In a purported audio clip that went viral, the MP was allegedly heard saying, “bad elements have been protesting against the government and the recent killing of an innocent Nihang at Singhu border has exposed them. The farmers are not protesting but only bad elements. I have been frequently visiting Delhi and most of the tents at protest sites are empty and this issue will be resolved soon”.Reacting over the incident, Jangra said the incident took place when he was on his way to another function when some miscreants threw sticks on his car, damaging his windshield.“I have spoken to Hansi SP and Haryana Director General of police in this regard. This was a clear murder attempt and police told me that two persons have been detained. I have demanded strict action against the detainees. I had gone to attend social functions when the incident took place. Will they (farmers) protest social functions too?After my car was vandalised, I had to cancel two other social programmes,” the MP added.After the incident, the farmers staged a dharna outside Narnaund police station while other groups blocked the Hisar-Rohtak national highway near Ramayana toll plaza, chanting slogans against the BJP MP, state government and administration.BKU leader Gurnam Singh Charuni also reached the Narnaund police station and demanded the release of the two farmers.“ We will go back after the police to cancel the FIRs registered against farmers . Jangra has been trying to divide the people on caste lines and he has been using abusive language against the protesters. We have started indefinite dharna at Narnaund police station,” Charuni added.Hansi police PRO Subhash said two detained farmers have been released and the senior police officials are holding meetings with Charuni and other farm leaders to end the dharna.“ We are hoping that the dharna will be lifted after the meeting,” the Hansi Police PRO added.Meanwhile, in a separate incident, former BJP minister, Manish Grover, Rohtak Mayor Man Mohan Goyal and other senior leaders of the BJP were kept hostage at a temple in Kaloi village in Rohtak. The BJP leaders had gone to hear the live telecast of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech from Kedarnath temple where he had gone to perform ‘aarti’ at the shrine.The farmers protesting against three farm laws locked the main entrance gate of the Shiva temple at Kiloi village and took BJP leaders hostage. A heavy police force was also deployed to maintain law and order and both sides were at loggerheads. After the situation got tense, additional forces from Jhajjar, Sonepat and Jind were called at Kaloi village to keep peace in the village.The farmers claimed that the hours-long stand-off situation ended after BJP leaders climbed on the terrace and apologised. BJP leader Manish Grover, after leaving the temple, said people from some social organization met them and urged them to waive at protesters to end the deadlock.“We did not apologise to anyone. We will continue to visit the shrine,” he added. A spokesperson of the district administration said that the issue has been resolved and was a result of some misunderstanding. According to the spokesperson, after coming out of the Shiv Temple, former minister Manish Grover said that the dispute had arisen due to a misunderstanding. He further elaborated that as soon as the villagers understood the reality, the matter was resolved.

Hindustan Times

05-11-2021

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