BJP MLA thrashed, clothes torn by protesting farmers in Punjab’s Muktsar
A BJP MLA in Punjab was allegedly thrashed and his clothes torn by a gaggle of farmers at Malout in Muktsar district on Saturday, police mentioned. BJP leaders have been going through the ire of farmers for the final a number of months in the state. Agitating farmers have been opposing the programmes of the saffron occasion leaders in Punjab over the farm legal guidelines subject.
When Abohar legislator Arun Narang reached Malout on Saturday together with native leaders to handle a press convention, they had been surrounded by a gaggle of protesting farmers, and black ink was thrown at them and at their automobiles, officers mentioned.
Some police personnel took the MLA and native leaders to a store. But later after they got here out, the protesters allegedly thrashed Narang and tore his clothes, police mentioned.
The policemen escorting Narang confronted a tricky time in defending him from the protesters. The legislator was later escorted to a secure place by the police, officers mentioned.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (Malout) Jaspal Singh mentioned the protesters had been adamant that they might not permit the BJP legislators to carry the press convention.
A video has surfaced on social media, purportedly displaying the MLA in torn clothes being shifted to a safer place by the police.
The Muktsar Police on Saturday night time registered a case in opposition to seven named individuals and 200-250 unidentified individuals on the costs of try to homicide, assault or legal power to discourage public servant from discharge of his responsibility, wrongful confinement, legal intimidation and rioting amongst others.
Narang instructed PTI that he was “punched” by some individuals.
“I was punched a lot and my clothes were also torn off,” he alleged.
The BJP legislator mentioned he had gone to Malout to handle a press convention however the protesters didn’t permit it. They obtained violent and surrounded him, the MLA claimed.
Asked whether or not he has lodged a grievance in this matter, Narang mentioned he’ll discuss to the occasion management over this subject.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh strongly condemned the alleged assault on Narang and in addition warned of strict motion in opposition to anybody attempting to disturb peace in the state.
He urged the farmers to not indulge in such acts of violence, and appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to urgently resolve the disaster triggered by the passage of farm legal guidelines in Parliament final yr to forestall the scenario from escalating.
The chief minister directed the police chief to take strict motion in opposition to the perpetrators of the incident, who additionally clashed with the police personnel attempting to rescue the legislator.
Superintendent of Police (Headquarters), Faridkot, was injured whereas attempting to avoid wasting and evacuate the MLA. He suffered a cane blow on his head, inflicting his turban to fall off. He was admitted in Civil Hospital, Malout, the CM mentioned in an announcement.
The DGP mentioned a legal case will likely be registered in opposition to the suspects and statements of native BJP leaders had been being recorded.
Amarinder Singh mentioned that protest is the democratic proper of the farmers however violence of any type is not going to be tolerated.
Reacting to Punjab BJP leaders’ demand for his resignation, he mentioned as an alternative of attempting to take political mileage from the incident, they need to put stress on their central management to withdraw the contentious farm legal guidelines.
Punjab Assembly Speaker Rana KP Singh additionally strongly condemned the alleged assault on Narang.
“It is not only unacceptable, but highly condemnable that an elected representative of the people is mercilessly thrashed in full public view,” he mentioned.
Darshan Pal, the chief of Samyukta Kisan Morcha, an umbrella physique of farmers’ union spearheading the agitation in opposition to the central agri legal guidelines, mentioned,
“Today, farmers protested in opposition to BJP MLA from Abohar. Under hostile circumstances, it turned violent and the MLA was bodily assaulted.
“It is a matter of regret that an elected representative was treated this way. We do not encourage such behaviour. We strongly condemn this act,” he mentioned in an announcement.
Pal additionally mentioned the Samyukta Kisan Morcha appeals to all protesters to stay peaceable and disciplined.
The ruling Congress in Punjab, the BJP, in addition to the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) condemned the incident.
Such “unlawful behaviour” has no place in a democracy and the farmers’ protest will likely be weakened by these incidents, state Congress chief Sunil Jakhar mentioned.
BJP nationwide basic secretary Tarun Chugh slammed the Amarinder Singh-led authorities over the incident and claimed that it has “exposed the complete collapse of law and order in the state”.
Describing the incident as a “murderous attack” on Narang, he accused the ruling Congress of engineering it. Amarinder Singh was “instigating such attacks in order to stifle the voice of the BJP”, Chugh alleged and demanded that the chief minister resign.
SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal termed as “deplorable” the “violent attack” on Narang and demanded an neutral inquiry to repair the accountability for the “failure” of the police in defending the dignity of an elected consultant.
He appealed to everybody to train restraint to make sure that peace and communal concord in the state was not disturbed.
Thousands of farmers have been protesting since late November at Delhi borders with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, demanding a rollback of the farm legal guidelines.Â
(With PTI inputs)
