Farmers’ unions in Punjab have decided to protest during the upcoming election campaigns of Punjab Prime Minister Narendra Modi, therefore the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has asked the farmers’ union leaders to send a memorandum of their demands to the party for the same to be sent to the PM.
PM Modi will address a rally in Patiala on May 23 and in Gurdaspur and Jalandhar on May 24. Farmers protested against the BJP seeking a legal guarantee for the minimum support price (MSP) recommended by the Swaminathan Committee. Farmers are also angered by the recent “waste” by the Haryana police during the farmers’ “Delhi Chalo” march, where a young farmer died of a bullet wound.
BJP executive member Manoranjan Kalia said that farmers should present a detailed charter of demands instead of disrupting the Prime Minister’s rallies. “We assure the farmers that the prime minister will look favorably on their demands to find some solution to their problems. Organizing protests or disrupting demonstrations is not the solution,” said Kalia, adding that democracy gives candidates the right to carry out election activities.
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BJP state president Sunil Jakhar said, “Farmer unions should first reach a consensus and sit together to work on real issues and demands. They are speaking with multiple voices now.”
BJP candidates from all 13 parliamentary segments are facing protests by farmers every day as they have not been permitted to conduct polls, especially in rural areas.
Prime Minister’s security wing meets police officers
Senior security officials from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) are holding meetings with police agencies in Patiala, Gurdaspur, and Jalandhar to ensure detailed security arrangements.
A January 2022 security breach led to Prime Minister Modi’s convoy being shut down in Ferozepur for over 30 minutes due to a blockade by farmers.
After a meeting with Special Protection Group (SPG) officials, the Jalandhar administration declared the area a no-fly zone on Thursday.
“The decision was taken after a meeting with the SPG to take all possible security measures during the Prime Minister’s visit,” said Additional Deputy Commissioner Major Amit Mahajan (retired).
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