Farmers in Naraingarh tearing the poster of Saini and other leaders after a vehicle of his cavalcade hit a protesting farmer. Photo: By arrangement

By Vivek Gupta

Chandigarh: One farmer sustained injuries while others had a narrow escape after a car they claim was part of Bharatiya Janata Party MP Nayab Saini’s cavalcade drove into a group of farmers protesting against the centre’s farm laws in Naraingarh near Ambala.

While official versions from the Ambala police and Saini is awaited, the injured farmer – identified as Bhawan Preet – in his police complaint to Naraingarh police, stated that BJP’s Kurukshetra MP Nayab Saini, Haryana government sports minister Sandeep Singh and other party leaders were attending an event held at the Saini Bhawan in Naraingarh on Thursday morning.

The farmers reached a Dharamsala on Naraingarh-Sadhaura Road at 11 am to protest against the visit of Saini and other BJP leaders, as part of their ongoing protest to gherao BJP leaders and government representatives over the refusal of the Union government to repeal farm laws.

As per the complaint, farmers were raising slogans on both sides of the road. As the event concluded and the convoy of cars exited the area, a rashly driven Innova vehicle (HR-04-F-0976) in Saini’s cavalcade drove towards a group of farmers protesting on one side of the road.

 

While one farmer had a narrow escape, the vehicle directly hit Bhawan Preet and threw him on the other side of the road, causing him several injuries, read the complaint.

As per the complaint the vehicle was driven by one Rajiv, a resident of Berkheri village in the area. The complaint said Rajiv “deliberately hit the farmer” as part of a conspiracy hatched with BJP MP Saini to teach farmers “a Lakhimpur Kheri kind of incident.”

Four days ago, eight people, including four farmers, died in UP’s Lakhimpur Kheri area after a convoy of cars, which included one owned by junior Union Minister Ajay Mishra and allegedly driven by his son Ashish, rammed into a group of farmers holding a peaceful protest.

According to an injured farmer in Naraingarh, the said Innova vehicle is often seen in Saini’s cavalcade. After the incident, the car driver even issued threats at farmers, telling them never to protest in Naraingarh unless they want to see the area become a “second Lakhimpur.”

Preet has been released from hospital after treatment but he has been advised bed rest for a week.

Members of BKU giving police complaint of the incident to Ambala police. Photo: By arrangement

Farmers ask for FIR against Saini, vehicle driver

Malkit Singh, who is president of BKU (Chaduni) Ambala, told The Wire that the injured farmer was admitted to a government hospital where the incident took place and sustained a lot of injuries on the lower part of the body.

“The vehicle rammed into him so fast that it appeared for a second that the injured farmer would not survive. He survived because he jumped over to the other side just as he was hit by the vehicle. He would have definitely been mowed down by the vehicle if he fell down in front of it, like at Lakhimpur Kheri. Two or three other farmers standing with the injured farmer too had a narrow escape,” said Malkit Singh.

 

He told The Wire that in their complaint to the police, they have demanded that an FIR be filed against the vehicle’s driver and Saini as “they had deliberately hatched a conspiracy to hit peaceful farmers in order to teach them lesson like at Lakhimpur.”

“The video of Lakhimpur incident made it amply clear that peaceful farmers were deliberately hit. The same happened here in Naraingarh,” he added.

“A few days ago Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar made controversial remarks that encouraged violence against the farmers. He called upon volunteers to pick up sticks and fight farmers. Lakhimpur is an example of how peaceful farmers were killed. They want to repeat this here in Haryana now,” said Singh.

Singh said the vehicle was registered in Saini’s name. “Even though someone else was driving the vehicle, he is equally responsible for the incident,” he said

Farmers have said they will gherao the police station in Naraingarh and other places if no action is taken by police.

This story first appeared on thewire.in