UP BJP MLA blames Sonia, Rahul for farmer violence; Congress hits back

Ballia (UP), January 27

UP BJP MLA Surendra Singh has alleged that violence during the farmers' tractors parade in the national capital had taken place on the directions of Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, and demanded that a case of sedition be lodged against those involved in the violence.

Hitting back, Uttar Pradesh Congress media coordinator Lalan Kumar alleged that the BJP government was responsible for the violence saying the BJP MLA's statement showed his "mental bankruptcy".

The tractor parade on Tuesday that was to highlight the demands of the farmer unions to repeal three new agri laws led to anarchy on the streets of the national capital as tens of thousands of protesters broke through barriers, fought with police, overturned vehicles and hoisted a religious flag from the ramparts of the Red Fort.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday night, the BJP MLA said, "The act of violence during the tractor parade is condemnable. A case of sedition should be lodged and strict action should be taken against those involved in the act."

Asking the party leadership to take strict action against those involved, Singh alleged, "There is a foreign hand behind the violence. The incident had taken place on directions of Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. The Congress leaders not expressing regret over the incident proves that."

Reacting strongly to the allegation, Kumar said, "The BJP government, Home Ministry, police and intelligence agencies were responsible for whatever happened during the tractor parade.”

"For bringing a bad name to the agitation some persons intruded into it in the guise of farmers. Deep Sidhu is an example. Sidhu was representative of BJP MP Sunny Deol. The BJP should tell how Sidhu is related with it and what punishment will he be getting for whatever he did at Red Fort," Kumar said.

Deol, meanwhile, has said that he has no link with Sidhu.

Expressing anguish over the violence in the national capital during the farmers' tractor parade, the Congress had said on Tuesday that there is no place for such incidents in a democracy, even as it urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to "shun arrogance" and repeal the farm laws.

UP Minister for Backward Welfare Anil Rajbhar had said on Tuesday that "those protesting in Delhi are not farmers but middlemen-type people, who stand exposed after the incident".

"The work of farmers is not to protest on the roads with their tractors. They always work in their fields. They are protesting against the laws passed in Parliament," he had added. PTI