Farmers’ protests continue to trouble BJP

The closure of Shambhu border, farmers agitation and local issues in villages continue to cause trouble for BJP candidates, especially in rural areas, during campaigning for the ongoing Assembly election.

The Haryana-Punjab interstate border has been lying closed since February because of the strong barricades installed to stop the farmers, who wanted to go to Delhi to raise their demands, including legal guarantee on MSP.

Even during the Lok Sabha election, the farmers had opposed the BJP leaders. Now again, BJP candidates and campaigners are facing similar situations. Along with the BJP, its former ally’s (JJP) leader Dushyant Chautala also faced the ire of farmers.

Former Home Minister and Ambala Cantonment candidate Anil Vij, Naraingarh candidate Pawan Saini, Mullana candidate Santosh Sarwan, Narwana candidate Krishan Bedi, Tohana candidate Devender Babli and Uklana candidate Anoop Dhanak are among those who faced opposition in their constituencies.

While the Opposition has been raising the issues of farmers strongly in their public meetings to woo farmers, BJP leaders have been trying to woo farmers on the basis of the announcement made over procuring 24 crops on MSP, direct payments into farmers’ account and PM Kisan Samman Nidhi.

“The BJP has failed to fulfil its promises made to farmers. Instead of doubling the income, the BJP has increased the cost of production. It has been trying to suppress the voice of farmers and also causing losses to the traders of Ambala by closing the Shambhu border. The Congress will give MSP to farmers and reopen the Shambhu border,” former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said.

The death of Shubhkaran Singh, firing at farmers and blockade at Shambhu border are some of the major questions being asked of the BJP nominees by farmer activists belonging to BKU (Shaheed Bhagat Singh).

BJP spokesman Praveen Attrey said, “Over the past 10 years, the BJP government has introduced 50 schemes for the welfare of farmers, but still some political parties and groups — for their vested interests and political compulsions — keep protesting against BJP candidates. The BJP is committed to the welfare of farmers and farmers are also happy with the schemes.”