5 min readChandigarhApr 7, 2021 09:43 AM IST
First published on: Apr 7, 2021 at 03:02 AM IST
Protesting farmers Tuesday blocked a BJP MP’s car and smashed its windscreen while he was leaving a party worker’s residence in Kuskushetra’s Shahabad town, the incident being the latest in a series of protests against the leaders of the ruling JJP-BJP alliance in Haryana.
Groups of farmers also raised slogans and protested against Women and Child Development Minister Kamlesh Dhanda in Kaithal and state BJP chief Om Prakash Dhankar in Panipat during separate events to mark BJP’s foundation day.
Kurukshetra MP Nayab Singh Saini said police had a tough time in getting him away from the protesters. He, however, added that those who indulge in acts of violence against elected representatives cannot be farmers. “Such people are defaming farmers,” he added.
Describing the attack on Saini as “murderous”, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said while it is the democratic right of farmers to hold a protest, violence will not be tolerated. “It was a murderous attack on the MP. This is not a small incident,” he said.
Some farmers protesting against the three new farm laws were sitting on a ‘dharna’ in front of the Jannayak Janta Party MLA Ramkaran Kala’s home when they got to know that Saini had reached a BJP worker’s home in nearby Majri mohalla. A group of farmers soon gathered outside the BJP worker’s house while Saini was still inside, police said.
As Saini came out of BJP worker’s house and boarded his Innova car, some protesters surrounded the vehicle. They were raising slogans of “BJP Sarkar-murdabad” and “Nayab Saini-Murdabad”. The MP’s security personnel kept trying to escort out the vehicle. For some time, the protesters, some of them carrying black flags, kept chasing the vehicle.
“The MP was leaving the venue after attending a function. One of the farmers threw a stone towards the car, which resulted in breaking the rear windscreen,” Shahabad DSP Atma Ram told The Indian Express.
Police were deployed in large numbers in the area after the incident. Kurukshetra SP Himanshu Garg said police are investigating the matter and would file a case against those found responsible for the violence.
In another incident, a group of farmers targeted state BJP chief when he had gone to Panipat to attend a function to mark party’s foundation day. Keeping in view the ongoing farmers’ agitation, heavy police force was deployed in the town ahead of Dhankar’s visit.
However, with black flags in hands, the farmers reached near the programme venue one hour before function was to begin. As soon as Dhankar reached there, farmers started raising slogans of “Jai Jawan-Jai Kisan, Inquilab Zindabad (long live revolution) and Haryana-Punjab bhaichara zindabad”.
Dhankar said the BJP function concluded peacefully despite the protest by “few Congressmen”. “They were Congressmen but came with flags of farmer unions. If these Congressmen have courage, they should have come with flags of Congress,” said Dhankar.
Meanwhile, minister Kamlesh Dhanda too faced agitating farmers when she had gone to attend a party function at Kakot village in her assembly constituency Kalayat in Kaithal district. A group of farmers started raising slogans as soon as her cavalcade reached the village. The minister said she was invited by the villagers for a function organised on the occasion of BJP’s foundation day. “The villagers were happy with the function but some people created a drama as part of their low-level politics,” she said.
The farmers have been saying they will hold a peaceful protest, which is their democratic right, but any incident of violence will not be tolerated, the chief minister told reporters in Chandigarh.
Asked about farmer leaders’ call for the boycott of BJP-JJP leaders, Khattar targeted the opposition parties, saying they have not condemned this, “which means they are extending their silent support (to the boycott call)”.
On Saturday, farmers had held a protest against Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar in Rohtak, forcing authorities to shift the landing site for his helicopter.
Asked about the Rohtak incident, Khattar said, “I have got video clippings. Was it a peaceful protest? When you see the clips you will understand.”
On the police action against the protesters, he said, “They tried to clash with the police. The police will have to take some steps in self-defence. Will they sit silent when stones are being pelted at them? Three cops were injured in the incident. Those who claim protests will remain peaceful should ensure they remain so.”
Earlier, farmers had held a protest last week against Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala outside Hisar airport.
Farmer leaders have said they would continue their “peaceful social boycott” of leaders from the BJP and its allies.
In another incident, a group of farmers targeted state BJP chief when he had gone to Panipat to attend a function to mark party's foundation day. (File) 
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