BJP MP Varun Gandhi on Sunday called for adopting a conciliatory line with farmers protesting against the Centre's three farm laws. His appeal came as a large number of farmers from across the country converged in Muzaffarnagar to attend a 'kisan mahapanchayat' to decide on the plan of action on the agitation against the farm laws.
Varun Gandhi tweeted, "#Lakhs of farmers have gathered in protest today, in Muzaffarnagar. They are our own flesh and blood. We need to start re-engaging with them in a respectful manner: understand their pain, their point of view and work with them in reaching common ground."
Before Varun's tweet, his cousin Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who is a Congress general secretary, announced her support for the farmers' mahapanchayat. Priyanka Gandhi tweeted, "Farmers are the voice of this country. Farmers are the pride of the country. There is no arrogance of any power in front of the farmers' voice. The whole country is with the farmers in the fight to save agriculture and demand the right to their hard work."
According to media reports, around 8,000 security personnel have been deployed to maintain law and order at the Muzaffarnagar mahapanchayat.
Speaking to mediapersons, Rakesh Tikait, leader of the Bharatiya Kisan Union, said the farmers would be discussing "strategies to continue the agitation across the country".
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The Samyukt Kisan Morcha had said the "Muzaffarnagar mahapanchayat will be the biggest ever in the last nine months".
Bharatiya Kisan Union media in-charge Dharmendra Malik said farmers belonging to 300 organisations spread across different states like Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Maharashtra and Karnataka have gathered for the event.
He said over 5,000 langars (food stalls), including some mobile stalls, have been set up for the participants.
Hindustan Times reported "BKU state president Rajbeer Singh Jadaun said that similar kisan mahapanchayats would be organised in 18 divisions of the Uttar Pradesh in months to come. The BKU leader is expecting around five lakh farmers to attend the gathering."
