As BJP state chief leaves after Jalandhar meeting, farmers lift over 20-hour-long dharna

Tribune News Service

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Jalandhar, August 26

Farmers camping outside the Circuit House here for the past 20 hours lifted their dharna after BJP state chief Ashwini Sharma left Jalandhar on Thursday morning after a marathon state-level meeting with party members at the Circuit House.

While Sharma is believed to have left at about 9.30 am, farmers continued their dharna into the afternoon leaving the spot hours after Sharma had left.

Though there was an attempt to remove the barricades at one point in the morning, the departure of the BJP leader remained peaceful.

Farmer leaders raised slogans against Sharma and continued protesting at the spot and finally ended their dharna at the BMC Chowk.

Farmer leader Amrik Singh, who had been camping the night outside the Circuit House, said, “We were here to protest against state BJP chief Ashwini Sharma. But we want to ask why leaders hide from us. He has left the place without meeting us. By holding meetings, leaders only create problems for people. We have already said we will protest. If the state leaders convince the Centre to repeal the three farm laws we would not have to protest like this. We will continue to protest against BJP leaders as long as farm laws are not withdrawn.”

Kashmira Singh, spokesperson of the BKU (Rajewal), said, “Wherever a BJP leader arrives we will hold protest against him. Any leader from the party intending on holding a meeting or programme in the coming times should expect this. We are planning similar action for various upcoming events of the party.”