DW BUREAU / Chandigarh

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Saturday urged the Election Commission to take note of the alleged threats to farmers' organisations by the BJP's Lok Sabha candidate from Faridkot, Hans Raj Hans, and direct the police to register a case against the singer-politician.

In a letter to the Election Commission, SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia said, "Hans Raj Hans has openly issued threats to farmer organisations and announced they would be subject to state repression post the elections".

He said the BJP candidate had gone to the extent of saying he would personally oversee the beating of all farmer leaders and representatives who had asked the BJP to explain why it was discriminating against them.

"This goes beyond the scope of an inflammatory speech and a criminal case should be registered against Hans immediately".

In a separate statement, Majithia also termed the utterances as shocking and intolerable in a democratic society. He demanded that the BJP take action against Hans Raj Hans and take back his candidature from Faridkot constituency.

"If this is not done, Punjabis will understand that Hans was reflecting the BJP's mindset and game plan against the farm organisations."

Expressing solidarity with the farming community, Mr Majithia said "no one has the right to talk to the annadaata in this manner". He also condemned the BJP for not respecting the demands and making the ground for launching repressive action against them.

"Punjabis have faced tyranny earlier also and have made tyrants bite the dust. Hans should not think he will be able to browbeat Punjabis by resorting to such threats. Instead they will teach him a befitting lesson on June 1".

Mr Majithia also expressed solidarity with the farming community of the State. "The SAD left the NDA government in protest against the black laws. It has consistently advocated that all promises made to farmers, including making MSP a legal entity, be implemented besides raising its voice against the AAP- BJP conspiracy to stop farmers from going to Delhi and even using force and bullets to stop them.
(editor@dailyworld.in)