Haryana voters continue to heckle ruling BJP, JJP rebels; saffron camp candidates face tough time campaigning

Babli faced the wrath of agitated people of his constituency when he went to Jakhal and publicly apologised in the village panchayat. Anoop Dhanak, too, had been facing similar protests in his constituency.

The incident pertains to March 12 when Babli faced a protest in Fatehabad while he was on his way to attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s live online program as Haryana’s panchayat minister. Farmers gheraoed Babli and started questioning him about their demands and crop damage compensation. Heated arguments took place then between Babli and the protestors and Babli was also caught on camera pushing the protesting farmers out of his way. Later, a few protestors were also booked by the police.

On Friday, Babli went to Jakhal village panchayat and publicly sought an apology. The panchayat members, however, later said that Babli had been forgiven only for manhandling and pushing the farmers and for getting criminal cases registered against them. No announcement has been made by the panchayat to support him. The protest against him and the BJP would continue, they added.

Talking to The Indian Express, Babli said, “There were some issues. A few people wanted me to come and say a few words. I went there and everything is settled now. Of course, there is some reaction against the party [BJP], but people look at the candidate too. I am the one who implemented several projects in public health, schools were upgraded, libraries were created in villages, and community centres were constructed. So, people see all that too. BJP’s cadre is also strong here. People blessed me in 2019 and this time also, I am seeing an immense response in my favour.”

Farmers, however, continued to vent their ire against the BJP. “The BJP is anti-farmer and we shall leave no stones unturned to ensure that the BJP is defeated. Although Devender Babli apologised today (Friday) and sought forgiveness, it does not mean that we have softened our stance against the BJP. We have forgiven him [Babli] but shall continue to oppose the BJP,” a Fatehabad-based farmer leader said.

After meeting the farmers, Babli said, “Nobody can understand the farmers’ plight better than me. Today, I had a meeting with farmer organisations and a few issues were resolved. I am also a farmer’s son and I told farmers that if I had used any words for which they felt hurt, I would withdraw my words and remarks. The criminal cases that were registered against the farmers shall also be withdrawn in due course of time after going through a legal process.”

Babli had also faced similar protests in other villages, too.

In Jhajjar’s Ladayan village, an agitated mob of women and children caught hold of BJP candidate Kaptan Birdhana and took him to the middle of a potholed road and showed him how the sewerage water was flowing in their streets. Bardhana was made to stand in that slush and muddy water. He could not move out of the area until he assured the agitated mob that he would get the water pumps deployed there to remove water from the streets.

Nalwa BJP candidate Randhir Panihar, too, faced a protest in Devan village under Hisar district late Thursday evening. Farmers interrupted Panihar’s public connect program and started shouting anti-BJP slogans. As the situation started to escalate, Panihar left the venue. He had earlier faced similar protests in Rawalwas village. Panihar is a Congress rebel who had contested the 2019 polls from the same seat but lost to then-BJP candidate Ranbir Gangwa. This time, the BJP has fielded Gangwa in Barwala and Panihar in Nalwa.

BJP’s Narwana nominee Krishan Bedi continued to face protests in his constituency. On Thursday, he faced protests in Karamgarh village where farmers interrupted his speech and started questioning him for not supporting them during the farmers’ agitation. A mild scuffle and heated arguments took place between Bedi’s supporters and the agitated protestors. Bedi had earlier faced similar protests in other villages.

BJP minister Abhe Singh Yadav also faced protests in Koriawas village under Nangal Chaudhary seat from where he is contesting. The protesters caught hold of the microphone and started shouting anti-BJP slogans. They accused Yadav and the BJP of not doing anything for the youth and alleged that their constituency continues to be deprived of basic amenities.

Former Sirsa BJP MP Sunita Duggal, who is now contesting from the Ratia seat, also faced a similar protest.

Several videos of BJP leaders facing the wrath of the electorate are going viral on social media. On Thursday afternoon, former BJP MLA Sita Ram went to Ateli where the villagers gheraoed him. Sita Ram had gone to campaign for Union minister Rao Inderjit’s daughter Aarti Rao, who is the BJP candidate from the Ateli seat. Villagers accused Sita Ram of not doing anything for their area.