BJP steps up counter moves as farmers protest enters day 24
text_fields
Farmers dance along the blocked highway during a demonstration against the central government’s recent agricultural reforms at the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh state border in Ghazipur on December 18, 2020.
New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has stepped up measures to counter the farmers' narrative on the contentious farm bills. After a string of Union Ministers and the party leaders accusing the protest as instigated by the Opposition and politically motivated, the party has now started organising farmers conferences at its bastions in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar.
There were reports quoting the party sources who said that 700 farmers' meets and 100 press conferences are planned in 700 districts over the next few days.
At a conference organised by the party at Bhagalpur in Bihar, Union Minister Giriraj Singh accused the ongoing protest around Delhi as part of conspiracy hatched by the Opposition.
Addressing the conference, the Minister said, "the farmer who is in the farmers' conference is the true and patriotic farmer. While anti-national slogans are being raised in the so-called farmers protest, here Jai Kisan and Bhara Mata slogans are raised."
He said that the new agricultural law has a provision to eliminate middlemen, which poses a threat to some people. The opposition is trying to mislead farmers by giving false information regarding the new agricultural law.
Meanwhile, the size of the protesters at Delhi border has swelled further to several kilometers as more and more farmers are continuing to join the movement challenging the contentious farm laws.
The borders leading to Delhi are closed at Singhu, Tikri, Ghazipur and partly at Shahjahanpur.
Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar had expressed hope on Friday that resolution on the protest could come before the country moves to 2021. In an interview to PTI, he reiterated the links of Opposition behind the protest.
The farmers have responded sharply to the Centre's accusations and urged for an immediate solution for the stalemate.
"The government should either find a solution or we will have to resort to revolution. Such a revolution would go right through the heart of Delhi itself," Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tiwari said on Friday.
In yet another intriguing development, BJP National Executive Member and ex-minister, Birender Singh has declared support to the protesting farmers.
"I stand by them. This protest is of all. It is not restricted to a group of the society. I am already in the field and have made up my mind." Birender Singh told medias on Friday.
