Quit for dubbing farmers ‘hooligans’: Punjab CM to Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi

Chandigarh, July 22

Even as Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh condemned the alleged attack on a journalist at the farmers’ protest site Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, he demanded immediate resignation of Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi for dubbing the farmers ‘hooligans’.

Slamming the BJP leader for using derogatory language against the farmers, who have been peacefully agitating against the farm laws for nearly eight months, the Chief Minister said it reflected the anti-farmer mindset of the party.

The Union Minister’s reaction was uncalled for and provocative, he said. Lekhi, he said, had no right to defame the farmers.

The Delhi Police should file a case, he said, adding that the BJP should not condemn the farmers in an outrageous manner over the incident. Pointing to the comments made by various BJP leaders against the farmers ever since their agitation started at the Delhi borders, he said, the ruling party had been trying to malign the farmers and undermine their peaceful protests. He said the BJP leaders had earlier to defame the farmers with slanderous descriptions such as ‘terrorists’ and ‘urban Naxalites’.

Having failed to deter the farmers, who had even lost their lives in the ‘fight’, the BJP leadership had once again resorted to shameful tactics, said the Chief Minister. The BJP-led Union Government had proved, time and again, that it was not interested in hearing the voice of the ‘annadaatas’, he said.

Capt Amarinder said the anger among the farmers was a matter of concern and the Prime Minister should immediately take steps to resolve the crisis, which could have serious repercussions. — TNS