Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee members raise slogans against the Centre in Amritsar on Monday. photo: Vishal kumar

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 7

Senior BJP leaders, including Rajya Sabha member Shwait Malik, former Cabinet Minister Anil Joshi and party’s local unit president Suresh Mahajan faced embarrassment when they had to face the agitating farmers during the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the BJP’s new office in Amritsar today.

Ironically, amid slogans from both sides in the presence of heavy deployment of the police, the BJP leaders continued to perform the ‘bhumi pujan’ ceremony. Post the ceremony, the BJP leaders left the venue in haste.

Reacting over it, Malik said the programme was already scheduled. “Farmers’ cause is our prime concern. The Centre is holding regular meetings with the farmers to resolve the impasse,” he said.

Farmers, under the banner of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, were taking out a motorcycle rally to sensitise people and seek their cooperation for the ‘Bharat Bandh’ call on December 8 against the anti-farm laws when they came to know about the BJP’s function.

The infuriated farmers reached the venue and condemned the BJP leaders for holding a ceremony at a time when their brethren have been protesting in biting cold.

“How can they be so unconcerned when they get ministry seats on the basis of votes polled by Punjabis? Their actions implied they have been blinded under political influence,” they said.

KMSC state general secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher said the BJP Punjab leaders showed little concern about the agrarian crisis.

Activists of various farm unions have been staging a sit-in outside the residence of Malik since July.