On 15 June, when a large group of farmers came to Nawanshahr to inaugurate development projects, senior Congress leaders waving black flags, the party dismissed it as a one-time event “triggered” by vested interests. done. But with the last two months seeing more such incidents, the Congress is now baffled by the protesting farmers slowly showing their anger towards the ruling party in Punjab as well.
What began as a protest against the Doaba Kisan Union (BKU) quickly spread to other constituents of the United Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella organization of various farmer unions from Punjab and Haryana, which is part of the three agricultural laws of the Centre. agitating against. From BKU (Rajewal) to BKU (Revolutionary) and Kirti Kisan Union (KKU) all have held protests against senior Congress leaders in different parts of the state in recent days. Not only this, senior Congress leader and cabinet minister Balbir Singh Sidhu had to cancel his Jalandhar tour last month fearing massive protests by KKU and BKU (Rajewal) members.
Even the newly appointed Punjab Congress President Navjot Singh Sidhu has faced protests for waving black flags in the Doaba region.
At a time when elections are round the corner and the controversial agriculture law is expected to be the main election issue, the Congress can hardly bear the brunt of farmers’ anger.
The Punjab Congress is cautious and cautious in its response to these protests. “These protests are well planned. Farmers know which party is standing with them. A protesting group is being instigated and we do not want to point fingers at anyone,” said Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu, who also faced protests by a group of farmers.
SKM leaders say their main anger is towards the BJP for bringing in agricultural laws, but insiders believe that some members are angry with the Congress as well.
“Congress thinks that by talking about agricultural laws it may be able to cover its inefficiencies while dealing with pressing issues like unemployment, power crisis, drug issues. But we will let them go away without demanding accountability from them,” remarked a farmer leader from Doaba.
Congress leaders allege that one of the main opposition parties, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), instigated the protests by sniffing out an opportunity to take advantage of the agitation, the latter denied the allegation.
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