BJP Punjab general secretary Malwinder Kang quits over farm laws

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 17

In the first major dissent within the BJP over the new farm legislations, party’s Punjab general secretary and core committee member Malwinder Kang today resigned from the primary membership of the party.

In his resignation letter to BJP state president Ashwani Sharma, Kang reasoned that “the farmers, arhtiyas and small traders were rightly and democratically protesting the new Acts passed by the Union Government”.

He said he had raised the issue in support of farmers at the core group meeting of the party and called for party’s state and central leadership to “address the grievances of the protesters.”

BJP state president Ashwani Sharma said he was yet to receive the resignation letter. On reasons behind the resignation, Sharma said “everyone has the right to have their opinion and follow their chosen path”.

Party sources suggested besides the farm Acts, Kang had an issue with the two other general secretaries of the party. Sources said a number of state BJP office-bearers were unhappy with the way things were being run. Sources said Kang was one of the three general secretaries of the party but power rested with only one.

‘Farmers rightly protesting Acts’

• Malwinder Kang, state BJP core committee member, in his resignation letter to state unit chief said ‘farmers, arhtiyas and small traders were rightly protesting the new Acts’
• He claimed to have raised the farmers’ issue at party’s core group meeting and called for party’s leadership to ‘address the grievances of protesters’

4 villages ban entry of BJP leaders

Four villages falling in Guruharsahai subdivision of Ferozepur have banned the entry of BJP leaders to protest the new farm laws. Posters have been put up “warning” BJP leaders of dire consequences if they tried entering Chappa Adiki, Jawai Singh Wala, Deep Singh Wala and Kohni villages, said Bakshish Azaad, state president, Naujwan Jagrukta Mission.

Azaad said the villages had taken the decision to express solidarity with the farming community. “We can feel their pain. The villages have decided to boycott all BJP leaders, including the PM, whose government has enacted the anti-farmer laws,” said Azaad. Mission members on Saturday held a protest march against the NDA government. OC