BJP farmers refuse to campaign in Bihar

RANCHI: A Kisan Sammelan (farmers’ assembly) organized by BJP’s farmers’ wing on Wednesday took a surprising turn when a faction of the wing refused to go to Bihar to campaign for the part before upcoming polls. The voice of protest was raised by leaders who are also farmers and have been bearing the brunt.
The conference was attended by national president of farmers’ wing Vijay Pal Singh Tomar, BJP’s Jharkhand in-charge Trivendra Singh Ravat, BJP state president Dr Ravindra Rai, agriculture minister Randhir Kumar Singh, state president of the farmers’ wing Om Singh and many others who tried to reason with the farmers.
Om Singh in his inaugural speech highlighted some of the problems farmers face. “There is an urgent need to have a state commission for agriculture that deals with the farmers’ problems,” said Singh. However, a few party leaders also pointed to the fact that the state government has not done much for farmers’ welfare.
National executive BJP farmers’ wing member Mohan Singh Yadav was among those who refused to go to Bihar to campaign. “How can I ask people to vote for BJP when their wishes will also not be fulfilled?,” he said.
Yadav claimed that kisan morcha representatives from Giridih, Jamshedpur and Bokaro also refused to go to Bihar to campaign. “I was given charge of Madhepura but I refused,” he said.
State media in-charge of the wing Sanjay Poddar initially said the matter of sending members to Bihar was not discussed but later admitted that a few office bearers were asked to go to Bihar after Janmashtami to campaign.
National president Vijay Pal Singh Tomar said the Centre is addressing the needsof farmers. “Central schemes like Jan Dhan Yojna, Jeevan Surakhsa Yojna and Atal Pension Yojna will benefit farmers,” said Tomar.