- By Vivek Raj
- Mon, 22 Apr 2024 09:44 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Farmers in Punjab staged protests against BJP candidates Dinesh Babbu in Batala and party leader Arvind Khanna in Barnala on Sunday, continuing their agitation over unmet demands. This adds to a series of similar incidents where BJP leaders faced backlash from farmers during Lok Sabha election campaigning. Candidates like Hans Raj Hans, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, and Preneet Kaur have already faced farmer anger in various constituencies.
In Fatehgarh Churian, Batala, farmers raised slogans against BJP nominee Dinesh Babbu, who is contesting from the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seat. Despite police attempts to deter the protesters, they voiced their opposition to the BJP leaders. Babbu, in response, stated that the BJP is the only party capable of addressing farmers' issues through dialogue.
"We are with the farmers and I am also a farmer. Their issues can be resolved through dialogue," said Mr Babbu.
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Meanwhile, in Barnala, BJP leader Arvind Khanna faced protests from farmers during his campaign visit. Heavy police deployment and barricades were witnessed amid protest. Khanna attributed the protests to workers of the AAP, alleging orchestration rather than genuine farmer representation.
Other BJP candidates, including Taranjit Singh Sandhu from Amritsar, who have faced farmer ire, reiterated their farming backgrounds and commitment to addressing farmers' concerns. Despite the protests, they vowed to continue campaigning.
The farmers, organised under the banner of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), have vowed to oppose the BJP and urge voters to "punish" the party in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Their discontent stems from the BJP-led Centre's failure to address their demands, including enacting a law on minimum support price (MSP).
The ongoing 'Delhi Chalo' march by farmers, led by SKM (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM), seeks government acceptance of demands, primarily legal assurance of MSP for crops. Since February 13, farmers have camped at Shambhu and Khanauri border points of Punjab and Haryana, demanding government action.
With polling for Punjab's 13 Lok Sabha seats scheduled for June 1, the farmer protests highlight the growing dissatisfaction and political implications in the region.
