Farmers deny BJP MLA’s entry into their village

A KISAN FAIR IS being organised on November 11 in Jwalapur which will be inaugurated by chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. Pro-farmer and agricultural schemes will be publicised and made aware to the farmers, said BJP legislator

HARIDWAR: Aggrieved by delay in rolling back of three farm laws and comments by some BJP leaders against the farmer agitation, farmers of Dinarpur village in Haridwar district have decided not to allow entry of BJP lawmakers in the village.

The farmers affiliated with Bharatiya Kissan Union and Shiromani Akali Dal on Sunday blocked the entry stretch to Dinarpur village where BJP legislator from Jwalapur Suresh Rathore was to attend a meeting.

Farmer representatives said they won’t allow entry of BJP representatives until the central government rolls back three farm laws for which farmers have been agitating for the past 15 months.

“The BJP government is antipeasant, trying to suppress the peaceful, non-violent agitation in Delhi border as well as in other parts of the country. Derogatory remarks by some BJP leaders, including parliamentarians, and Lakhimpur Khiri incident has further exposed the BJP’S anti-farmer attitude.

“As a mark of protest, we won’t allow the entry of BJP legislators, ministers and parliamentarians in our village,” said Shiromani Akali Dal district president Subba Singh.

Local villager Jasmeet Singh said they waited for BJP legislator Rathore but he went back from Shahedpur village, 5 km from Dinarpur, fearing a protest.

When contacted, Rathore termed the protest and “no-entry” threat as an act of Congress activists and pro-Congress supporting farmers only.

“Those who are opposing the BJP are only Congress activists or associated with some farmer organisations. This doesn’t mean the all villagers are against BJP. In a couple of days, I will visit Dinarpur village and listen to the issues of the locals so that the same can be redressed. I am not deterred by some anti-social elements threatening or protesting as it is the BJP only which caters to farmers’ issues seriously,” said Rathore.

“A Kisan fair is being organised on November 11 in Jwalapur which will be inaugurated by chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. Pro-farmer and agricultural schemes will be publicised and made aware to the farmers,” said Rathore.

Congress leader Rajesh Rastogi denied farmers protesting against the BJP are being backed by the Congress.

“It is no-entry for BJP leaders in this village but in hearts of every villager and voter, it is no-entry for them owing to their failed, divisive and antipoor policies,” said Rastogi.