Prime Minister Narendra Modi during an election rally at Polo Ground, in Patiala, on Thursday. Tribune photo: Rajesh Sachar
Mohit Khanna and Aman Sood
Shambhu/Patiala, May 23
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that the INDIA bloc neither have a leader nor an intent, claiming that on the one side there is the BJP and NDA and on the other ‘bhrashtachariyon ka INDI gathbandhan’.
Modi was addressing his first Lok Sabha election rally in the state, at Polo Ground, Patiala.
The PM reached the rally venue amid farmers’ agitation at various points in the district and was welcomed by BJP's Patiala candidate Preneet Kaur, Faridkot candidate Hans Raj Hans, Sangrur candidate Arvind Khanna, Bathinda candidate Parampal Kaur and party’s state chief Sunil Jakhar, among others.
Addressing the gathering, the PM said the INDI alliance wants to divide country and society but Modi wants to make India ‘Viksit Bharat’.
He also targeted Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, saying he is a 'kagzi CM' who is always busy marking his presence in 'Delhi darbar'.
Earlier in the day, farmer unions supporting the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) protesting at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders started their march towards Polo Ground, the venue of Modi's rally.
The farmers are camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points since February 13 when their 'Delhi Chalo' march was stopped by security forces.
SKM (Non-Political) leaders Jagjit Singh Dallewal, Sarwan Singh Pandher, Amarjeet Singh Mohri, Manjeet Singh Rai, who are spearheading the Shambhu and Khanauri Morcha protests, had insisted on talks with PM Modi and said that in case they were not invited, they would move towards the rally venue and show black flags.
Kuldeep Singh Bhateri of BKU (Behru group), Baldev Singh Damheri and Jagjit Singh of Indian Farmer Association said that they were peacefully protesting at Dhareri Jattan toll plaza as the police didn’t let them proceed towards the rally venue.
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Farmers, policemen had suffered injuries as they locked horns over passage to Hans Raj Hans.
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“Despite our repeated attempts the state police emissaries failed to get us any response from the prime minister office pertaining to our questions and therefore we had no option but to hold protest and reach Patiala”, says farmer leader Sarwan Pandher.
16:25 23 May
Police call additional reserve force to deal with farmers whose number have swelled at Passiana.
16:21 23 May
Farmers have blocked the Sirhind road, Rajpura highway, Sangrur-Patiala highway and Samana road, and are not allowing smooth traffic movement.
16:19 23 May
The farmers are not letting him go to the rally venue, confirms a senior police officer.
“We will not allow you to leave as you have always belittled our struggle and have praised Modi”, say union members who have surrounded his vehicle near Passiana.
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Shambhu: Farmers have assembled at Shambhu and other border points to mark the completion of 100 days of the ongoing protest to press the Centre to accept their demands, which includes a legal guarantee of MSP for crops. The farmers are camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points since February 13 when their 'Delhi Chalo' march was stopped by security forces.
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