Saffron supporters in Najma’s village turn the heat on BJP govt

Bhopal: Phanda, a non-descript village on the outskirts of Bhopal that shot into prominence after being adopted by former Union minister and BJP leader Najma Heptullah and one that still owes allegiance to BJP stalwart and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the epicenter of Friday’s violence around the city.

How this bastion of BJP crumbled and protesters had a field day against the administration and their own government, tells the story of the farmers’ agitation and their plight across the state.

Amidst the pitched battled between police and protesters in Phanda village on the outskirts of Bhopal, an elderly man sat down at the entrance of his house with a picture of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in the backdrop. Tension palpable on his face, when TOI inquired he said. “I fear we are losing the ground. In this village, we are all BJP supporters.”

Wiping his old glasses, the elderly man speaking on condition of anonymity said, “Since Atalji time we are with the BJP. He still rules our hearts, but the party seems to be forgetting its people now. We are simple farmers and have no big demands, don’t you think our demands should be fulfilled?”

A huge arch on the entrance of village says “Sansad Adarsh Gram Harihar Nagr (Phanda) main aapka swagat hai (welcome to the sansad adarsh gram Harihar Nagar, Phanda). Board has the pictures of Najma Heptullah and local MLA Rameshwar Sharma along with other local BJP leaders.

Gangaram, an 80-year-old farmer, said, “I came here to protest because it is a fight for our rights. Farming is our livelihood, if we don’t get right price for produce, how are we going to survive. I am in the last leg of my life and have always supported for BJP, but in this stage of my life I don’t expect much from anybody but this protest is about our livelihood.”

Ramswaroop Mewade, another villager said, “our demands are simple we want government to implement minimum support price and should give us payments in cash instead of cheque.”

A woman Savita Shakya said, “We as farmers are definitely protesting, but these boys who are pelting stones on police are not from our neighbourhood. We have never seen them here before.

A day before the protest police arrested six local influential farmers in Phanda and neighbouring villages of Tumbada, Chandoli and Teela Khedi. Raju Rajput, a local leader was arrested on Thursday night after he circulated an audio message on WhatsApp urging farmers to protest at Phanda toll on Friday.


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