Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, December 20

Members of various farm unions, BSP as well as Shiromani Akali Dal on Sunday protested against the BJP leaders during a workers’ meeting of the party, which was being held at a local marriage palace here.

The dharna happened days after various farmers unions held a protest and burnt an effigy at the Company Bagh Chowk in anticipation of BJP leader Shwait Malik.

Days before that, farm leaders had also gheraod the residences of some senior BJP leaders.

During protests, members of some farm unions and BSP as well as SAD leaders gathered outside the venue of the meeting and raised slogans against the Central Government and in favour of farmers. BSP leader Sukhwinder Kotli, SAD leader Tejinder Singh Bittu and farm leaders were also present.

BJP leaders Manoranjan Kalia, former district rural president Deepak Sharma, Yagyadutt Aeri were present in the meeting.

BSP leader Sukhwinder Kotli said: “With the ongoing farm agitation, BJP leaders should abstain from holding meetings like this. They know the sentiments of farmers. Farmers have given a statewide call that they shall gherao leaders wherever they try to hold such meetings. Despite that, a meeting was held here. We stand with farmers and will be democratically and peacefully opposing the BJP’s policies and its attempt to hold any such event in future as long as farmers’ demands are not met. The dharna was also not a party event. It was an opposition from all parties and farmers’ groups were also present.”

SAD leader Tejinder Singh Bittu said: “Delhi vich morcha chal reha, eh sama nahi haiga meeting karan da (protests are going on in Delhi. This is not the time to hold meetings). I think the BJP leaders are aware that protests are on at Delhi and farmers are unhappy. Farmers are angry and farm leaders aren’t allowing any such meetings by the BJP leaders.”

Cops moved protesters to a side and the BJP mandal meeting concluded amid the ongoing dharna, after which party leaders left.

Speaking to media, DCP Gurmeet Singh said the agitation was peaceful and was peacefully dispersed. He said BJP leaders also left soon after their programme concluded. He said the police have been exhorting farm leaders to maintain peaceful and democratic stirs and not to disrupt or cause inconvenience to traffic anywhere.