PM Narendra Modi will begin his Punjab campaign with a big rally in Patiala and two rallies on Friday in Jalandhar and Gurdaspur amidst tight security to avoid a repeat of 2022 when the prime minister’s cavalcade was disrupted at a flyover near Ferozepur.
BJP candidates have been facing protests from farmer unions in Punjab but BJP’s in-charge in the state and former Gujarat CM, Vijay Rupani, told News18 that such protests were political and would die down post elections. “Punjab’s farmers know and understand everything, they are with us. Some small protests are happening, it is a democracy, and it is their right. Punjab farmers have got many benefits from Centre, their incomes have increased, all of their crop is procured on MSP… Punjab’s farmers have no problem on that front. These protests are all political; this will remain till elections,” Rupani said.
The PM will land at YPS Grounds in Patiala around 4.30pm on Thursday and drive a short distance to the rally. Punjab Police is out in big numbers in Patiala and the farmer unions have said they will not disrupt the rally but hold protests elsewhere. Their demand to meet PM Modi, however, has been turned down. BJP candidates like Ravinder Singh Bittu and Hans Raj Hans have criticised the farmer unions for not letting the voice of real farmers of Punjab be heard.
BJP is looking forward to the prime minister’s visit to set the tone now regarding the pitch to the farmers of Punjab.
PM’s Campaign
PM Modi is expected to give fillip to BJP’s campaign in Punjab as the party is fighting without an alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal. The PM already set the tone for the Punjab campaign on Wednesday in Delhi, saying Congress was responsible for the 1984 Anti-Sikh riots and the Sikh community won’t forget it.
Rupani told News18 that the Akali Dal may not be with the BJP but Punjab’s support was with the saffron party. “Punjab’s people are sick of Akali Dal, Congress and AAP. They want Modi. Only Modi can make Punjab strong and take it forward. That is why we are fighting alone. And this will work to our benefit,” Rupani said.
BJP’s Amritsar candidate Taranjit Singh Sandhu also told News18 that the farmer protests are part and parcel of a democratic country and the BJP’s focus is on increasing incomes of farmers.
“In Amritsar, we grow vegetables and fruits. If we can export them, incomes will increase 15-20 times. Peas cost Rs 10 here, they are sold for Rs 335 in Dubai and Rs 1,350 in UK. Look at the difference. Farmers need to know this, maybe the farmer union does not want farmers to know this. Parali can be converted into aviation fuel, why should the farmers burn it? It is important to focus on the real issues,” Sandhu told News18.
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