The police detain farm activists after a protest in Kurukshetra on Sunday. tribune Photo
Tribune News Service
Kurukshetra, April 18
About 70 farmers were detained today for having shown black flags to Kurukshetra MP Nayab Singh Saini at Saini Samaj Bhawan here. He was in the city to attend an event in the honour of BR Ambedkar, whose birth anniversary was on April 14.
Besides Saini, Sports Minister Sandeep Singh, Thanesar MLA Subhash Sudha and other BJP leaders attended the event.
Congress workers protesting
Farmers are our brothers. Those protesting at the Delhi borders are not farmers, but Congress workers.— Nayab Singh Saini, Kurukshetra MP
On getting information about Saini’s visit, around 200 farmers gathered at the venue and raised slogans against the BJP-JJP government and the Kurukshetra MP.
The police tried to disperse farmers, but they did not move. Subsequently, they were detained and taken to the Police Lines. They were let off later.
BKU (Charuni) activist Jasbir Singh Mamumajra said, “Farmers have requested BJP and JJP leaders numerous times to not hold any event till the movement is on, but they seem to be not bothered. The Kurukshetra MP has been holding back-to-back events in his segment. He has been trying to instigate farmers.”
District BKU (Charuni) president Krishan Kumar said farmers were protesting peacefully and showing black flags to BJP leaders, but the police forcibly dispersed them.
“The police and the district administration have been issuing challans to the public for violating Covid guidelines, but BJP leaders have been holding back-to-back programmes here without getting challaned. Farmers will meet the DC on Monday to discuss the matter. If farmers are stopped again from holding peaceful protests, we will block roads,” he said.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Ravinder Tomar said, “Initially, farmers said they would protest peacefully and wouldn’t disrupt the event. On their assurance, they were designated a site to protest. But they deviated from the plan and assembled near Saini Samaj Bhawan after having removed police barricades. In spite of repeated requests, they refused to leave.”