Punjab: Protesting Farmers Attack BJP Leaders In Rajpura; Party Workers Allege 'State Police Involved'

The saffron party leaders who were manhandled have alleged state Police's role behind the attack. The partymen have alleged that the attack was carried out at the behest of the state Police. 

Image: ANI/Twitter

Patiala: In an unfortunate incident, Punjab BJP leader Bhupesh Aggarwal and other local leaders of the party were allegedly attacked by farmers earlier today in Patiala district's Rajpura. 

As reported by news agency ANI, the saffron party leaders who were manhandled have alleged state Police's role behind the attack. The partymen have alleged that the attack was carried out at the behest of the state Police. 

"500 farmers beat me up under at the behest of DSP Tiwana. He deliberately sent me to the wrong side. No Police force accompanied me, my life is under threat. I called up the SSP several times but to no avail. DSP paid no heed to us. He did this deliberately," BJP leader Bhupesh Aggarwal told ANI. 

DSP JS Tiwana has refused all allegations and said that 100 Police personnel and 2 SHOs were deployed. "It's a false allegation. 100 Police personnel & 2 SHOs were deployed. Farmers protested outside & they (BJP) held their program inside. They were brought out safely & were going in their vehicles. They might've been surrounded later. Nothing happened before us," the official said. 

The development has come after Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait announced that 200 people will hold protests near Parliament from July 22, in view of the ongoing farmers' protests.

"If the Centre wants discussion on farm laws, we're ready for talks. But, if talks do not happen or reap fruitful results, then from July 22 onwards, 200 of our people will hold protests near Parliament," Tikait said on Saturday. 

His remarks were in response to the statements by Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar who had said the government is ready to resume negotiations with the protesting farmers to discuss desired changes in the legislation while the option for a complete repeal out of question. 

Farmers mostly from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh have been camping at Delhi borders since November last year, demanding that the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, Farmers' (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020 be rolled back and a new law made to guarantee minimum support price for crops.

Several rounds of talks between farmers and the government have failed to break the deadlock.