A murder that may complicate BJP’s farmer problem

 

A murder that may complicate BJP’s farmer problem

What Two-time former Haryana MLA and Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) leader Nafe Singh Rathee, 70, was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Bahadurgarh near Delhi. A party worker was also killed and three private security personnel were injured as assailants sprayed bullets on their SUV. The problem With a support base among farmers, the INLD’s response is likely to complicate problems for the BJP, which is facing the heat over the “Dilli Chalo” call given by more than 200 farmer unions. The protesting farmers have stayed put at the Punjab-Haryana border for 13 days. Pressure mounts The murder, in the run-up to the Lok Sabha election, drew sharp reactions from Opposition parties, with INLD leader Abhay Chautala demanding CM Manohar Lal Khattar’s resignation. INDIA allies the Congress and AAP alleged that "no one is safe in Haryana today." More here Double whammy After AAP and Congress leaders from Punjab, Haryana’s BJP government is now drawing flak from its partymen over its handling of the farm protest. Senior BJP leader Amarinder Singh, the former Punjab CM, condemned the Haryana Police, accusing it of committing a "barbaric act of violence" in which a farmer was injured. He urged Khattar to take strict action against the policemen responsible for the incident. A new front The protesting farmers on Sunday shifted their attention to the WTO meeting beginning today in Abu Dhabi. The SKM, an outfit with over 500 affiliated farmer unions that have stayed away from the ongoing protest, will join the protesters in observing “Quit WTO Day” today. Stalemate continues No forward movement has happened between the farmers and the government after the fourth meeting between Union ministers and farmer leaders on February 18 ended in a stalemate. Farmers have not yet allowed the cremation of Shubhkaran Singh (21), the Bathinda farmer who was killed in a clash in Khanauri last Wednesday. They are demanding that the Punjab government order the registration of an FIR against those in the Haryana Police responsible for his death.