New Delhi: While the Congress party on Sunday voiced support for the 'Kisan Mahapanchayat' in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar, the Bharatiya Janata Party termed it as an "election meeting".
BJP accused the Muzaffarnagar Mahapanchayat organisers of indulging in politics in view of the assembly elections approaching in a number of states, including Uttar Pradesh.
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The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) organised the event at the Government Inter College ground in Muzaffarnagar amid their ongoing protest against the Union government's agrarian laws.
The BJP's 'Kisan Morcha' head and MP Rajkumar Chahar alleged in a statement that it is politics and not concerns for farmers that has been on the agenda of those behind the 'mahapanchayat', news agency PTI reported.
"This was very much a political and election meeting. The opposition and these farmer union leaders have been using the shoulders of farmers to engage in politics," he said.
Chahar went on to claim that no government has done so much for farmers as Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led governance in the last seven years.
On the other hand, Congress lent support to 'Kisan Mahapanchayat' in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar with party leader Rahul Gandhi saying that the call of truth is echoing and the "unjust government" will have to listen.
"The call of truth is echoing. You will have to listen (to it), unjust government!" Rahul Gandhi tweeted in Hindi.
Earlier in the day, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also wrote that the "arrogance of power" cannot withstand the roar of the farmers.
"Farmers are the voice of this country. Farmers are the pride of the country. Arrogance of any power cannot withstand the roar of the farmers," she added.
The whole country is with the farmers in the fight to save agriculture and in demanding their dues in lieu of their hard work, the Congress general secretary stated.
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Govt Should Be Given 'Vote Ki Chot': Rakesh Tikait
Addressing thousands of farmers gathered on Sunday at the mahapanchayat in Muzaffarnagar, BKU leader Rakesh Tikait called Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders "rioters", news agency PTI reported.
The BKU spokesperson said that BJP should be given a drubbing in the 2022 Uttar Pradesh assembly polls.
"This government should be given 'vote ki chot' (electoral defeat). The slogan of 'fasalon ke daam nahi, to vote nahi' (no fair price for crops, no votes) will have to be raised," Tikait stated.
Referring to PM Modi, UP CM Yogi Adityanath and Union Home Minister Amit Shah as "outsiders", the farmer leader said he has no objection if they become prime ministers after winning polls from Uttarakhand or Gujarat.
"But on the soil of Uttar Pradesh, these rioters will not be tolerated," he added.
Rakesh Tikait said SKM's aim is to "save the country and its mission is not confined to Uttar Pradesh or Uttarakhand".
He further alleged that the railways, airlines, and airports are being sold along with "privatisation of electricity" and "sale of roads".
"The banks are being sold like FCI land is being given to Adani. The Sale of India' boards have been put up and the purchasers are Ambani and Adani,” PTI quoted him as saying.
He also claimed that state-run energy giant Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and fuel retailer Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL) are also in danger.
While protesting farmers have remained adamant over their demands regarding the three contentious farm laws, the Union government keeps insisting that these laws have given farmers new opportunities to sell their produce.
(With agency Inputs)