‘Maharani’ Preneet Kaur faces farmers’ ire: ‘joined BJP without caring for people’s sentiments’

On Sunday, farmer activists from several unions, including Bhartiya Kisan Union (Krantikari), Kirti Kisan Union, and BKU Ekta Ugrahan, among others, protested against Kaur as she arrived in Samana’s Samrat Palace to address a party programme and some of them were detained by police.

Showing black flags and raising slogans against her and the BJP, farmers from several unions blocked the road outside and tried to gherao her as she arrived for party’s Booth Summit to release Sankalp Patra. (Photo: Sourced)

However, after farmers blocked the Samana-Patiala road for a few minutes, police released the detainees. Later, they again raised slogans against Kaur and her party. Farmers also raised slogans against the Punjab government after police detained some of their activists.

Gurnam Singh, BKU (Krantikari)’s Samana block president, said farmers from several farm unions would continue their protest against Kaur during her campaign. “Maharani Preneet Kaur was sent to the Lok Sabha by the people of Patiala on a Congress ticket. However, without caring for the people’s sentiments, who voted for her, she joined the BJP. She has joined a party which has always been anti-farmer. BJP stopped Punjab’s farmers from entering Delhi to raise their genuine demands,” he said.

Singh alleged that police detained some of their activists and whisked them away in vans even before they had started the protest.

“Preneet Kaur had not arrived at the venue and we were standing at both gates of the venue to protest. However, even before we could raise slogans, police started picking up our colleagues. They were released only after we blocked the road, laid down in front of the police van and did not allow the vehicle to move. Later, they were released and then we showed black flags and raised slogans. No one can stop us from protesting to show our resentment against BJP,” he said.

Patiala police had deployed heavy security at the venue, and Kaur entered and exited the venue amid heavy security cover amid protest by farmers. (Photo: Sourced)

Patiala police had deployed heavy security at the venue, and Kaur entered and exited the venue amid heavy security cover amid protest by farmers.

Samana DSP Neha Aggarwal said: “We had deployed forces outside the venue as farmers had announced to protest against her and the BJP. Some farmers were detained after they blocked the road but they were released later. No special security cover was provided to her.”

Earlier this week, she had faced farmers’ protests in Nabha and Patran in Patiala district and was shown black flags.

Meanwhile, releasing the BJP Sankalp Patra at the booth summit in Samana, Kaur said: “The Sankalp Patra released by our Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not only a reflection of things done by the BJP-led government in the past 10 years but also underlines the steps we will be taking in the coming years. The Modi 3.0 government will work for the holistic development of all sections of society, including farmers, elderly, women, youth and economically weaker sections.”

Other than Preneet Kaur, BJP’s Faridkot candidate and Sufi singer Hans Raj Hans and Amritsar candidate and former diplomat Taranjit Singh Sandhu also faced farmers’ ire during their campaigns.

Kaur, however, did not respond to several calls or messages.