BJP leader sees 'Jihadi, Khalistani' hand in farmers' protests; says goons are posing as farmers

Wasn't terrorist Bhindranwale a farmer, asks Y. Satya Kumar

ITDC INDIA EPRESS/ ITDC NEWS E Even as the clashes in Uttar Pradesh, which claimed the lives of eight people, including four farmers, became the latest flash-point between the agitating farmers and government in poll-bound UP and the BJP-led Centre, BJP national secretary Y. Satya Kumar claimed that "goons" are posing as farmers and staging protests in UP.

In a tweet in Hindi, Kumar asked wasn't terrorist (Jarnail Singh) Bhindranwale a farmer.

He said the manner in which the protests are being carried out suggests that it was a "well-planned experiment."

"The manner in which the goons posing as so-called farmers are carrying out violent agitations in Uttar Pradesh, seems to be not a coincidence but a well-planned experiment," he said in the tweet.

Further, he alleged that "Jihadi and Khalistani elements" want to spread unrest in the state.

He observed that one of the protesting farmers was wearing a t-shirt with the image of Bhindranwale.

In another tweet, he said the protesters are openly threatening media, setting police vehicles on fire and attacking BJP workers in Punjab, Haryana and other states. These protesters can be anything else but farmers, he added.

Meanwhile, irate farmers in Punjab and Haryana held demonstrations at many places in both states on Monday, demanding the arrest of Union minister Ajay Mishra's son in connection with the violence that broke out during a farmers' protest in UP's Lakhimpur Kheri.

Four of the dead were people in the cars, apparently a part of a convoy of BJP workers who had come to welcome UP Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya. They were allegedly thrashed to death. The four others were farmers. An FIR has been registered against the Union minister's son and several other persons in connection with the violence.