BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) activists resort to vandalism at BJP function on Vajpayee anniversary in Bathinda

Farm activists said they disrupted the function where arrangements were made for the live telecast of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address to farmers as they were opposed to the Centre’s farm laws.

Activists of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) disrupted the birth anniversary function of late prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Bathinda on Friday by ransacking a makeshift venue prepared by the district unit of the BJP.

BJP members arguing with police personnel when they asked them to leave the venue after farm activists disrupted their function to celebrate the birth anniversary of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Bathinda on Friday. (Sanjeev Kumar/HT)

The BKU activists said they did so in protest against the three farm laws passed by the BJP-led central government.

BJP workers had gathered near Urang Palace in the morning and made arrangements for viewing the live telecast of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s national address to farmers on the occasion.

Police had barricaded Amrik Singh Road that leads to the venue and diverted traffic as a preventive measure but the group of BKU activists forcibly removed the barricades and disrupted the BJP function.

BJP district president Vinod Kumar Binta said chairs were smashed and the BJP activists were attacked by the mob.

Senior superintendent of police BS Virk said the police managed to control the situation in time and no one suffered serious injuries.

The BKU activists started a dharna in protest against the BJP’s function. BJP supporters refused to vacate the venue and observed a sit-in against the disruption of the function, saying they only organised it in memory of the late PM and to listen to Modi’s address.