Farmers oppose BJP MP Nayab Singh Saini's visit to Shahabad, smash windscreen

Tribune News Service

Kurukshetra, April 6

Protesting farmers today confronted Kurukshetra MP Nayab Singh Saini, smashing the rear windscreen of his SUV car, the police have said. The MP was not in the SUV when protesters at Shahabad Markanda, 20 km from here, targeted it.

Farmers protesting over the three new farm laws were sitting on a dharna in front of Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) MLA Ram Karan Kala’s home when they learnt that the MP had reached a BJP worker’s house in nearby Majri mohalla.

They then gathered outside the BJP worker’s house, while Saini was having tea inside, the police have said.

According to Saini, when he tried to leave the place, more than 50 protesters “gheraoed” it. A few of them jumped over the vehicle, while someone smashed the windscreen with a stone or a “lathi”, he said.

The BJP MP said it was with great difficulty that police got him out of the area in the SUV.

Later, the farmers forced the BJP worker to remove the party’s flag from his house.

Saini said, “Those who indulge in acts of violence against elected representatives cannot be farmers. Such people are defaming farmers. These are Congress-supported protesters. If we (BJP and JJP leaders) are not saying anything, this does not mean that we are afraid. Where were these people when their land was being sold and their crops were not being procured under the Congress rule?”

The Kurukshetra incident was the latest in a series of protests by farmers against ruling BJP-JJP coalition leaders in Haryana.

Police were deployed in large numbers after the incident.

Kurukshetra Superintendent of Police Himanshu Garg said police were investigating the matter and would file a case against those found responsible for the violence.

Ramkaran Kala, JJP legislator, also faced farmers’ protest for attending social and party events. On Tuesday, he attended an event in the honour of Chaudhary Devi Lal.

The farmers staged a dharna in front of the MLA’s house and raised slogans against him. Later, the MLA met the agitating farmers and assured them of not attending any social or party event.