Rajewal’s remarks upset Haryana farmers

Sushil Manav

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 28

Several farmer organisations are upset over Balbir Singh Rajewal’s remarks, blaming Haryanvi youth for the ruckus in Delhi on Republic Day and citing the example of Jat quota stir violence to prove his point.

During his speech at Singhu on Wednesday, Rajewal was heard saying in videos that Haryanvi youth were in a majority among those who deviated from the designated route, though some from Punjab were also a part of the group.

“Our youth have returned, but those from Haryana are still in Delhi,” he said. He went on to add that when he was first asked to preside over a meeting in which farmers from Haryana were also present, he had refused.

“I refused to preside over the meeting because I knew farmers from Haryana cannot keep their protests peaceful and their children do not obey their orders. I told them that Haryanvi farmers had failed the Jat agitation in 2016 and would jeopardise our peaceful protest, ” Rajewal said in his speech in the videos.

Rajinder Arya Dadupur, state president of the Bhartiya Kisan Mazdoor Naujwan Union, said several leaders in Haryana were upset with the statement.

“Farmer unions from Punjab are fighting the battle on land that belongs to Haryana. Farmers from the state are providing support, including logistics, ration, milk, fruit and vegetables, for the past more than two months. It is not in the interest of the movement to single out people from Haryana for what happened on Republic Day, ” he said.

“Was the person who climbed the pole at Red Fort to hoist the flag from Haryana? Are those named in the FIR from our state?” asked Yashpal Rana of the Bhartiya Kisan Union.

He said the issue was taken up during a state committee meeting of the BKU in Sonepat today and all members of unions were upset over what Rajewal said.

Meanwhile, Rajewal apologised for his statement, but said he did not mean to undermine the role of Haryanvi farmers.

“Sometimes, one utters words which one does not mean. My motive was to give a piece of advice to farmers from Haryana, who are our younger brothers. Some people are trying to misguide them by circulating pieces from my speech. I tender an apology for my words,” he said in a video today.