Kejriwal: AAP govt being punished for backing farmers' agitation

Tribune News Service

Hisar, April 4

Hitting out at the Centre, AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal today said the BJP government would have to pay a heavy price for ill-treating protesting farmers on the issue of three new agricultural laws.

Addressing a kisan mahapanchayat at HUDA ground in Jind, Kejriwal said the farmers’ demands were justified, but the Modi government instead of listening to their grouse, was trying to crush their voice. “Farmers are the real patriots of the country and those who are opposing them are in fact the traitors as they are focussing on their vested interests and not ready to sense the ground realities,” he said.

Raising the issue of reducing the powers of the Delhi Government by passing a Bill to empower the Lieutenant General, the Chief Minister said the Delhi’s AAP government was being targeted for extending support to the farmers’ agitation. “The elected government is being weakened in Delhi by handing over powers to the LG. The AAP government is being punished for backing the farmers, but we will keep supporting them despite the repercussions,” he said.

Paying tributes to the farmers who have died during the agitation at the Delhi borders, Kejriwal said, “it’s our responsibility that their sacrifice should not go in vain.”

“While Haryana’s BJP government tried to stop farmers by blocking their way and using force, the Delhi Government has been providing water, Wi-Fi, toilets and other amenities to the protesters.”

Supporting the road blockades by the farmers in protest against police action in Rohtak yesterday, Kejriwal said he had to take diversions to reach the mahapanchayat.