Fix responsibility: Farm union leaders on Modi's 'Security breach'

Ruchika M Khanna

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 6

The PM’s security breach issue has become the latest flashpoint between the BJP-led Centre and farmers.

Dr Darshan Pal, president of Krantikari Kisan Union, said rather than blaming each other or farmers, the government should fix responsibility on central agencies and the SPG, who decide on the route to be taken and others responsible for sanitising the route.

“The agencies knew that farmers were protesting on several routes leading to Ferozepur. Generally, VVIPs do not travel for such long distances (over 140 km) by road. Isn’t it strange that the PM was travelling by road for two hours when all agencies were aware that farmers are protesting? The decision of the 10 unions that met on December 31 was to only burn effigies of the PM. The protesters were caught unawares,” he added.

Farmer unions say the sit-in at Piareana was to stop the BJP workers from reaching the rally venue. “The place where the PM’s cavalcade was forced to stop was 1.5 km away from the protest site… the entire event appeared to be politically manipulated,” said Rajinder Singh Deepsinghwala, vice-president, Kirti Kisan Union.

Don’t blame us

Rather than blaming farmers, the responsibility should be fixed on central agencies and the SPG. — Dr Darshan Pal, KKU president