BJP’s Sunita Duggal chased down, made to say protesting farmers are real

Sunita Duggal, the BJP candidate from Ratia, faced strong opposition from farmers during her campaign in Lamba village. Duggal, a former MP from Sirsa, encountered a group of farmers, led by the Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) Kheti Bachao team, who intercepted her convoy and questioned her stance on farmers’ issues.

As Duggal arrived in the village to campaign, a group of farmers, headed by Satnam Lamba, gathered at the village entrance to confront her. After waiting for 2-3 hours, they discovered that Duggal’s convoy had taken a detour along a narrow, unpaved road to avoid them. The farmers pursued her convoy and eventually blocked it near the village school.

Once stopped, the farmers demanded answers regarding several contentious statements made by BJP leaders about farmers. They also questioned Duggal’s decision to take a back route, accusing her of trying to avoid them. Duggal responded by saying she was unaware of the route and claimed to be “a virtuous soul”. She asked the farmers to present their concerns peacefully, promising to address them.

The farmers raised key issues, including the Haryana Government’s decision to block their path to Delhi during protests on February 13, 2024. Duggal admitted that it was wrong. When questioned about BJP leaders’ claims that fake farmers were protesting at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders, she affirmed that the protesters were genuine farmers.

Another significant issue raised was the shooting of a farmer, Shubhkaran Singh. Duggal assured the farmers that an investigation into the incident would take place.

The farmers also criticised her for not visiting their villages during her term as an MP. In response, Duggal explained that the Covid pandemic and the farmers’ protests had consumed three years of her term, and the remaining time was spent on party programmes. After answering their questions, the farmers allowed her to leave.

A video of the incident has since gone viral on social media.

Party called agitators fake

The farmers raised key issues, including the government’s decision to block their path to Delhi during protests on February 13. Duggal admitted that it was wrong. When questioned about BJP leaders’ claims that fake farmers were protesting at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders, she affirmed that the protesters were genuine farmers.