(Sikandar S Maluka takes on Dhankar and Vij, tells them to resolve grievances instead of trying to suppress the peaceful movement)
Chandigarh, September 15 – The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today condemned the Haryana BJP as well as its government for trying to defame the Kisan Andolan by accusing it of encouraging drug addiction as well as spreading violence in the State.
In a statement here, SAD Kisan Wing President Sikander Singh Maluka said “the BJP has been trying to defame the Kisan Sangharsh from day one. Earlier the peacefully agitating farmers were accused of being anti-national and even terrorists. When this characterization was not accepted by the people, an even more sinister conspiracy was initiated to paint them as being responsible for spreading drug addiction in Haryana”.
Stating that Haryana should get its own house in order before defaming the hard working farmers of Punjab as well as the Kisan Andolan, the Kisan Wing leader condemned Haryana BJP President O P Dhankar for making mischievous allegations against the Kisan movement. “This is nothing but a ploy for an eventual clamp down on the movement”, he said while asking Dhankar to stop spreading enmity in the farming community by singling out Punjab farmers as villains. “Dhankar of all persons, who is from a farming background, should desist from becoming party to this conspiracy to defame the farmers of Punjab”. He rejected the allegations of increase of drug addiction in Sonepat, Rohtak and Jhajjar which were made out by the Haryana BJP President as frivolous and without any material basis.
Mr Sikander Maluka also condemned Haryana home minister Anil Vij for accusing farmers of instigating violence besides asserting that they were indulging in mayhem in the State. He said this was furthest from the truth. “Facts point to the opposite”, he said while asking the home minister to explain the order of the SDM to police men to crack open the skulls of farmers in Karnal. “This has been recorded on camera but the home minister, who is otherwise known for ordering prompt suspensions, is yet to take any action in the case”.
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Stating that this kind of tactic to intimidate and suppress a peaceful movement did not augur well for a functioning democracy, Mr Maluka requested the Haryana government to stop adopting the path of confrontation with farmers as directed by the central government. He said unlike what was being said by both the Haryana BJP President and the home minister; the truth was that the Kisan Andolan was as much a movement of farmers of Haryana as it was that of those of Punjab. “The Haryana government should talk earnestly with the protesting farmers and resolve all their grievances including taking action against officials who have resorted to unprovoked force against them. The Haryana government should also take up the issue of repeal of the three black laws with the union government in the interest of the nation instead of trying to defame and suppress the democratic movement against them”, Mr Maluka added.