NEW DELHI: BJP MP Vivek Narayan Shejwalkar on Tuesday alleged that the ongoing agitation by the “so-called farmer leaders” was being organised on the basis of lies and misinformation.
Raising the issue in Lok Sabha, Shejwalkar also requested the centre to deal strictly with the "so-called farmer leaders" spearheading the protest against three farm laws. He took exception to these farmers “for creating problems for the general public by blocking highways leading to the national capital”, he said.
This statement came days after minister of state for external affairs Meenakashi Lekhi who called the farmers protesting at Jantar Mantar as “mawaali” (rowdy elements). She also alleged that these protesters were “arhatiyas” (middlemen) and not real farmers.
Shejwalkar also said allowing the farmers to protest at Jantar Mantar in central Delhi was not in line with COVID-19 guidelines.
He alleged that the so-called leaders who claim to be well-wishers of farmers have been organising the agitation on the basis of lies and misinformation.
Shejwalkar said the real farmers were sweating it out in the fields to produce record output and wondered who were those taking part in the protests and blocking the highways.
"They cannot be farmers," he said, adding the government should deal "strictly with the so-called farmer leaders".
Several farmer unions have been protesting against the three farm laws passed by Parliament last September, saying the legislations were against the interest of the farming community. They have been camping on highways leading to Delhi for eight months now seeking repeal of the three laws.
The government has ruled out repeal of the laws, but said it is ready to address their objections to specific provisions.
(With agency inputs)
