Kurukshetra: Farmers protest BJP leader Om Prakash Dhankar’s visit, detained

Tribune News Service

Kurukshetra, April 16

About 56 farmers were detained for having protested in front of BR Ambedkar Bhawan, where state BJP chief Om Prakash Dhankar was scheduled to attend a two-day training programme for party workers.

On getting information about the BJP’s event, farmers gathered outside the Ambedkar Bhawan and raised slogans against the BJP-JJP government. Meanwhile, a heavy police force was deployed to maintain law and order.

The police tried to remove them as farmers resisted. A couple of farmers were injured. Soon, they were detained and taken to Police Lines where they were released.

Later, the farmers blocked the road in front of the Police Lines for nearly an hour and demanded a medico-legal report (MLR) of injured farmers. Later, police officials reached the spot and managed to pacify them.

After removing the protesting farmers, the police provided a safe passage to BJP leaders. Besides Dhankar, Kurukshetra MP Nayab Singh Saini, CM’s political secretary Krishan Bedi and district party president Rajkumar Saini attended the event.

Rakesh Bains, BKU (Charuni) spokesman, said: “The police forcibly removed us from the protest site. A couple of farmers suffered injuries. We will continue to protest against BJP leaders and oppose their events.”

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Ravinder Tomar said, “The police had designated a protest site for farmers, but they assembled in front of Ambedkar Bhawan after removing police barricades. In spite of repeated requests, they refused to leave. To maintain law and order, farmers were detained taken to the Police Lines. No force was used.” Dhankar said, “The Centre has been trying to resolve the matter. Workers of Congress and communist parties have been protesting in the name of farmers.”