Kisan Andolan: Farmers accuse BJP leaders of dodging proposed open debate

Shambhu: Farmer unions Kisan Majdoor Morcha and SKM (non-political), leading the Kisan Andolan 2.0, claimed that the BJP did not show up for the open discussion with the farmers even when the debate was proposed by the BJP leaders.

The farmers’ protests for a minimum guaranteed price among other demands have completed 70 days on Tuesday, and the seventh day of the rail roko on the Shambhu track for the release of arrested farmers in Haryana.

Discussions with BJP leaders

Recently, while addressing the press, BJP Punjab president Sunil Jakhar asked the farmers to debate about the farmers’ demands. Sunil Jakhar claimed that the BJP government has done a lot in the interest of the farmers of the country.

The farmers accepted the challenge and, on Tuesday, the farmers invited Central and State leaders of BJP for an open discussion and debate about farmers’ demands. The challenge given by the BJP president to the farmers was accepted by Kisan leadership.

BJP leaders didn’t turn up

However, no discussion or debate was arranged by the BJP leaders. After that Kisan Mazdoor Morcha and SKM (NP) organised an open discussion and debate at Kisan Bhavan from 11 am to 3 pm and an open invitation was extended to the state and central leadership of the BJP, the farmers said.

Kisan leaders said that they reached Kisan Bhavan on time and a large number of media personnel were also present. But none of the BJP leaders reached. The seats reserved for BJP leaders prime minister Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, JP Nadda and Sunil Jakhar remained vacant.

“The fact that the BJP leaders themselves did not come to the open discussion today by asking the farmers for a debate proves that the BJP government is not ready to face the questions of the farmers,” they said.

“Even when farmers in cities and villages ask questions, BJP leaders run away from the questions by saying that these policy matters are related to the upper leadership. Today, when the BJP’s top leadership was invited for the debate, they too were absent, running away from the farmers’ questions,” they added.

Addressing the press, farmers leaders Surjit Singh Phul, Jagjit Singh Dallewal, Manjit Singh Rai, Guramneet Singh Mangat, Abhimanyu Kohar and Sukhjit Singh Khaira announced in the press conference that 100 days of Kisan Andolan 2.0 will be completed on May 22.