New Delhi: The Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS), an affiliate of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), has demanded strict action against those who indulged in violence during the farmers’ tractor rally on Republic Day.
Speaking to ThePrint, the BKS said it has also decided to intensify its outreach programme on the farm laws. The BKS supports the reforms brought in by the farm laws but demands the inclusion of certain clauses, such as making MSP applicable to the open market besides the mandi.
“We initiated a Jan Jagran programme on 26 January and it will go on for the coming few days. More than one lakh workers are reaching out to at least 40,000-50,000 villages, informing the people about the farm laws and how they are being misled,” BKS organising secretary Dinesh Kulkarni said.
Referring to the violence that took place during the tractor rally, the organisation said the government should not just take action against the violent protesters but also the farm leaders.
Kulkarni said they will be writing to the government seeking legal action against those who deviated from the route earmarked for the tractor rally by Delhi Police, clashed with them, broke barricades, and laid siege to the Red Fort.
“We are still focused on our demands as far as the farm laws are concerned and want certain changes in the laws. But, right now, it is much more crucial to ensure strict action is taken against the miscreants,” Kulkarni added.
“At the same time, those who have been claiming to be the leaders of the farmers and misled them, the government needs to think about what action should be taken against them,” he added.
According to the BKS, the initial feedback from its outreach programme shows that people are upset with the way the protest took a violent turn.
“There is anger not only among the farmers but people too. They understand that it is no longer a protest of the farmers but some elements who want to break India,” Kulkarni said.
“The fact that some of the organisers tried to distance themselves has also not gone well with the people as they have understood their gameplan,” he added.
Meanwhile, he said, BKS representatives have also started meeting the members of the Supreme Court-appointed committee on farm laws to present their views.
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‘Violence extremely deplorable’
On Tuesday, the RSS had also issued a statement condemning the violence. “The violence and disturbances unleashed in Delhi today, the sacred Republic Day, are extremely painful and deplorable. Especially the unfortunate act at historic Red Fort is an insult to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for freedom and national integrity,” RSS national general secretary Suresh (Bhaiyyaji) Joshi said.
“RSS appeals to all countrymen to rise above political and ideological differences and to strive for peace as a priority.”
The RSS is keeping a close watch on the entire incident and is confident that the government will be able to arrive at a middle path, sources in the Sangh told ThePrint.
“Democracy can’t give way to mobocracy. The violent incident has exposed the entire protest. The government has offered to suspend the laws for sometime and we are hopeful that this will be resolved soon,” said a senior RSS functionary.
Also Read: Fresh talks offer ‘unlikely’ now — Modi govt could harden stand on farm laws after violence