Farmers Movement Archive

People should take to streets to be heard by the PM, says BJP’s former UP ally Om Prakash Rajbhar

AGRA: A former BJP ally in UP and Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP) chief Om Prakash Rajbhar has said that if any section of society wants to be heard by the Centre, then they should take to the streets because Prime Minister Narendra Modi can only be persuaded by protests. "The withdrawal of the farm laws has proved it that this government only listens to protesters," said Rajbhar, who was in Aligarh to attend a private function organised to celebrate SP patron Mulayam Singh Yadav’s birthday on Monday. "There are several pressing issues such as inflation and waiver of electricity bills and to get them resolved people should start a movement to get their demands met. Because, it’s ironic that even as BJP leaders insulted the protesting farmers by calling them anti-nationals and khalistanis, the PM apologised to them and decided to repeal the contentious farm laws," said Rajbhar, who later addressed a Dalit mahapanchayat organised by the Banjara community in Khair area. Targeting BJP leaders, Rajbhar said the BJP government came to power by making false promises. "Nagpur is the centre where BJP leaders get training to lie to get votes. In Gorakhpur, chief minister Yogi Adityanath had said that he had given employment to 40 lakh people, while in Ambedkar Nagar, he said 25 lakh youths had been employed, and now he is saying that 4 lakh youths have been given jobs. Which one is correct," he sought to know, adding that BJP leaders are expert liars. Rajbhar, who recently allied with the Samajwadi Party to defeat the BJP, said the ruling dispensation is against everyone whosoever speaks truth whether journalists or officials. "An FIR has been lodged against a journalist in Mirzapur for highlighting drawbacks in the mid-day meal scheme. Instead of improving the situation, the government has targeted journalists. They are snatching freedom of everyone," he said. "If our government is formed in the state, we will ensure a peaceful atmosphere, waive off domestic electricity bills, conduct caste census, provide free treatment to poor people, free education till graduation and form a journalists’ commission," promised Rajbhar.

The Times of India

2021-11-23

Agra