Vocal against farmers, BJP’s Harjeet Grewal gets key role

Chandigarh, October 7

BJP leader Harjeet Grewal, who has remained at loggerheads with farmer organisations over the issue of the three agriculture laws, has been rewarded with a key post by the party.

Nothing to do with farmers’ movement

The new role does not have anything to do with the farmers’ movement. I have been in the national executive for 18 years. — Harjeet Grewal, BJP Leader

Responsibility for Other state leaders

Avinash Rai Khanna - Himachal Pradesh incharge

Tarun Chugh - National general secretary

As per the list of national office-bearers released today, Grewal has been inducted as special invitee to the national executive of the party.

Apart from him, the other leaders from Punjab who have been inducted to the national executive are Union Ministers Hardeep Singh Puri and Som Parkash. Besides, some other leaders from Punjab have become members of the national executive by virtue of their post, including Ashwani Sharma and Dinesh Kumar, being state president and state general secretary, respectively. Also, Avinash Rai Khanna has been inducted as the incharge of Himachal Pradesh and Tarun Chugh as the national general secretary.

Initially, Grewal was trying to mediate between the Centre and farmers’ organisations over the issue of farm laws. But he came in the line of fire after the talks derailed.

Grewal made some controversial statements, prompting farmers to give a call for his social boycott. Some farmer organisations even prevented cultivation on his ancestral land leased out to a farmer at Dhanaula village in Barnala district.

On his part, Grewal said his new role did not have anything to do with the farmers’ movement. “I have been in national executive consistently for 18 years,” he said. Before Grewal, BJP’s national leadership had appointed Iqbal Singh Lalpura as the Chairman, National Commission for Minorities. Lalpura had also been vocal against farmer organisations. — TNS