Former Cabinet minister Vijay Sampla freed; returns to Hoshiarpur

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service
Muktsar, October 15

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Former Union Minister-cum-senior BJP leader Vijay Sampla was freed from detention after being gheraoed by farmers protesting against the contentious farm laws at Maha Badhar village here.

Sampla returned home to Hoshiarpur.

Earlier, he was on his way to visit a Dalit youth’s house at Chak Janisar village in Jalalabad sub-division in Fazilka district, who was allegedly forced to drink urine.

Also read: Furious over ‘ill-treatment’ by Centre, Punjab farmers to intensify stir, hold BJP leaders captive in houses

The BJP leadership said the incident was orchestrated by Congress leaders.

Rajesh Pathela, district president, BJP, said, “Vijay Sampla, some of us are being arrested and taken away. The farmers were adamant that they won’t give us a way to go ahead. We requested them to let us go ahead and visit Dalit youth’s family at Jalalabad. However, now police are arresting us. We are nearly 15 people.”

Also read: SAD activists protest against farm laws outside Delhi’s Krishi Bhawan

Sampla, along with others, sat on a dharna terming the agitating farmers anti-Dalit. Later, the police took them into custody.

Sampla told The Tribune, “The protest was led by a youth Congress leader. He, along with others, blocked our way. When we objected and started a parallel protest on the road, seeking a way to go ahead to meet a Dalit youth’s family, a police party arrived and took us into custody. We are now being taken to some undisclosed place on a police bus.”

Faridkot police took Sampla into custody near Khara village in on the border of Muktsar and Faridkot districts. Other BJP leaders of Muktsar district were released there.

“We have been released by Muktsar police on the boundary of Faridkot district. Now, a DSP of Faridkot district police is taking Samplaji in his official vehicle ahead towards Kotkapura. Samplaji’s personal vehicle is also moving along,” said Sandeep Girdhar, vice-president, Muktsar district, BJP.

“However, despite all this, we will come again in two-three days to visit the Dalit youth’s family. I have informed our state president about today’s incident.”

He further said that the Congress’ act today has proved that it was anti-Dalits.

Meanwhile, BJP activists burnt effigies of the Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh against the arrest of former cabinet minister Vijay Sampla by the Punjab police.

Similar protests also took place in Jalandhar and Hishiarpur.