February 24, 2021 3:06:11 am
A day after supporters of BJP and RLD clashed in Muzaffarnagar’s Sohram village, Union minister Sanjeev Balyan on Tuesday alleged that it was planned by leaders of the opposition party and that they were instigated by an announcement made through a mosque, even as RLD chief Ajit Singh visited the area and told local residents that police are “here for the public, and not personally for a minister”.
According to police, at least three people were injured in Monday’s clash during Balyan’s visit.
Balyan, the local MP, told PTI that he has urged local authorities to probe the clash. “Those involved in the clash were not farmers but office-bearers of RLD,” he said. “It was a planned clash, otherwise how can you explain videos of the incident going out on social media instantly, or tweet coming from an RLD leader instantly?”
He also said, “I had gone to Soram to attend the mourning of a local and it was a moment of grief but RLD office-bearers stared raising slogans and they were instigated by an announcement made from a local mosque. The entire incident was planned.”
Visiting the village to meet those injured, the RLD chief said, “Locks of houses were broken. People were assaulted. The police must take action…. The government is trying to divide you. They think that the farmer doesn’t understand. But the truth is they don’t understand farmers…”
He also said, “They (authorities) say you can go to court in case of issues(But) can a 5-acre farmer go to court (against big industrialists)? How will he pay the lawyer? In contract farming, the government must ensure right prices. The government tells you that your land will not go anywhere, but that’s misleading.”
Singh alleged that the debt in terms of crop dues increased exponentially under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tenure.
2021-02-23 13:36:11
