Bathinda farmers gherao BJP ex-minister Madan Mohan Mittal

Bathinda, November 3

Farmers under the banner of Bhartiya Kisan Union (Sidhupur) today gheraoed BJP leader and former minister Madan Mohan Mittal at Circuit House here. The police barricaded Circuit House to keep the marching protesters at bay. When the situation became tense, they escorted Mittal to safety from the back door.

Farmers protested against Mittal as soon as they came to know about his visit to the city. Addressing protesters, BKU (Sidhupur) leader Baldev Singh Sandoha said: “Narendra Modi-led NDA government is working against the farmers’ interests. Everyone is supporting us on the farm laws, except BJP leaders.”

Mittal had come to meet BJP local leaders on the farm laws and the upcoming elections to the Municipal Corporation. Interacting with mediapersons, he alleged that most protesters were not farmers, but Naxals.

The BJP leader stressed the farm laws were for the betterment of farmers, but opposition parties were misleading everyone for their political gains. Further, Mittal said goods trains were suspended as farmers were still protesting on rail tracks. Moreover, the state government did not ensure the safe passage to trains. The former minister stressed if farmer unions were willing, he could arrange their meeting with the Union Agriculture Minister. — TNS

Shwait Malik faces protest in Fazilka

BJP former state president Shwait Malik on Tuesday had to face the ire of protesting farmers during his visit to Fazilka. Farmers gheraoed his car and raised slogans against the Centre. They also staged a dharna outside the hotel where he held a meeting with local leaders. — OC