New Delhi: Meenakshi Lekhi, Union minister of state for external affairs, stoked controversy on Thursday, July 22, by denouncing farmers protesting on Delhi borders as mawalis (ruffians). Her comments drew sharp criticism from Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh, who stated that Lekhi’s comments had reflected the anti-farmer mindset of the BJP, the Indian Express has reported.
After they created a furore, Lekhi retracted her comments if they had hurt anyone and said that her words were “twisted”.
During a press conference at BJP headquarters in Delhi when asked about farmers’ protest, Lekhi said, “Phir kisan aap un logon ko bol rahe hain; mawali hain wo (you are calling them farmers again; they are ruffians).”
Recounting the “shameful, criminal activities” that took place during the farmers’ protest on January 26 in Delhi, she blamed opposition parties for the violence.
Lekhi said protestors were “playing in[to] the hands” of “some conspirators”, and said farmers do not have time to sit at Jantar Mantar. ” They [farmers] are working in their farms. Middlemen are behind them (protestors), who do not want farmers to get benefits,” she said.
Also read: Top BJP Leaders Continue to Claim That Farmers Are Being ‘Misled’, Defend Laws
After her statements invited criticism, an aide of Lekhi clarified that she was only responding to a specific question from a journalist who recalled an alleged attack on a cameraperson at Jantar Mantar and the violence that broke out during a farmers’ rally at Red Fort on January 26.
Issuing an apology, Lekhi said, “My words have been twisted. The (question during) press conference was on a completely different subject. Irrespective of anything, if my words have hurt farmers, I take them back and I apologise.”
Lekhi’s apology followed soon after Amarinder Singh hit out at her for using “derogatory language” against farmers.
“Given the ruling party’s alleged brazen attempts to stifle all voices of dissent and protest, the fact that it had failed to break the spirit of the farmers was clearly rankling,” Amarinder said in an official statement.
While condemning the alleged attack against the cameraman in question and calling for action against the guilty, Singh, however, said Lekhi’s comments were “deplorable” and “totally uncalled for”. He said Lekhi has no right to “defame” farmers and their protests.
Referring to a number of “disparaging” comments made by BJP leaders against protesting farmers, he said that the ruling party has been trying to malign peaceful protests right from the beginning.
Meanwhile, Delhi Police clarified that the cameraman concerned was injured after a YouTuber entered into a scuffle with him at Jantar Mantar, where about 200 farmers were protesting on the contentious farm laws on January 26.
“A heated argument broke out between the two parties after some comments. The TV journalist was hurt on the hand during the scuffle. We have taken him for an MLC and will take legal action. The YouTuber has been detained,” the Indian Express quoted a senior police officer as saying.