Punjab BJP chief Jakhar accuses AAP, Congress of exploiting farmers for political gain

Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar slammed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Congress, and farmer leaders for allegedly using farmers for their personal and political interests.

During a press conference here on Thursday, Jakhar stated, “Pagri sambhal Jatta. You are being used by the AAP, Congress, and even the farmer leaders for their political agendas.”

Reacting to the recent dismantling of farmer protests, Jakhar expressed his deep concern, saying, “Kisanan nu bahut doongi satt vajji hai atte Punjab dhai jaanda hai (Farmers have been deeply hurt, and Punjab is being demolished). Even when farmers make genuine demands, they are not being heard.”

Jakhar also accused the AAP and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of betraying farmers, stating, “It is the AAP that instigated the farmer protests. Mann, who once championed farmers' cause, has now turned hostile. In my 70 years of life, I've never seen a lawyer turn hostile against his own client.”

Jakhar raised questions about the state government's actions, particularly its sudden decision to remove farmer leader Jagjit Dallewal from the protest site. He pointed out that the Punjab government had previously informed the Supreme Court in December that it could not remove Dallewal from the site, fearing the situation would become uncontrollable.

“How is it that the same government was able to clear the protest site in just 20 minutes yesterday? This was only possible through careful planning by the state government,” Jakhar remarked.

Jakhar also criticised AAP convener and former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, accusing him of using farmers for political gains during the Delhi elections.

“Kejriwal used farmers to stage protests during the Delhi elections. Now, after more than a month, he is pleasing industrialists with his Industrial Policy, but there is no sign of a farmers' policy, nor will there be one. This is merely a political move ahead of the upcoming by-election in Ludhiana,” said the Punjab BJP leader.

Jakhar took a jibe at the Congress, challenging them to clarify their stance on the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for farmers. He pointed out that the Congress did not support MSP when its own MLA, Rana Gurjeet Singh, proposed it for all sugarcane farmers in the state.

“Why doesn’t Congress hold a protest where farmer leader Jagjit Dallewal has been hospitalised or at the Shambhu border, where farmers were cleared?” he asked.

Jakhar further criticised political leaders for misleading farmers. “Ordinary farmers are unable to see through the haze of political maneouvering. Think about your future and decide. Farmers were also misled against the BJP after the death of protesting farmer Shubhkarman,” he said.

He expressed disappointment over the handling of the case of an Army colonel who was allegedly beaten up by the police. “It is unfortunate that the state, once a symbol of 'Jai Jawan Jai Kisan,' is now witnessing its chief minister ignoring critical issues and attempting to cover up such incidents,” Jakhar added.