Punjab : Farmers thrash BJP legislator in Malout, tear off his clothes

The farmers were said to be waiting for the BJP MLA from Abohar near the BJP office in Malout where Mr Narang was scheduled to hold a press conference. The farmers gheraoed the BJP MLA's car and threw black ink on him when he arrived there.

The cops and BJP workers escorted Mr Narang inside a shop but when he came out the farmers allegedly attacked him again and tore off his clothes. The farmers also thrashed some other BJP leaders and ransacked the party office.

Police again took the BJP leaders inside a shop and took them out from the backdoor to a safer place.

Meanwhile, Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar strongly condemned the attack on BJP MLA Arun Narang in Malout, saying such unlawful behavior has no place in a democracy. He said that farmer protests will be weakened by such incidents.

In a statement here, Jakhar while terming the attack as extremely unfortunate said that everyone should be allowed to express their views and every citizen should respect each other's right to speak.

He also said that farmer protests are moving in the right direction to achieve their goal but events like these will hamper its progress.

The Congress leader appealed to all farmers to abstain from unlawful actions like these as no one can be allowed to take law and order in their own hands.

Meanwhile, senior BJP leader Madan Mohan Mittal on Saturday sought immediate resignation of Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder and imposition of President's rule in the state.

"A high level delegation of Punjab BJP will meet Punjab Governor tomorrow morning in this regard," Mr Mittal, who is also a former Punjab Cabinet Minister, told UNI in Phagwara.

He alleged that neither Capt government could control law and order in the state nor fulfill any of its poll promises.

It may be recalled that earlier also many BJP leaders, including the party's state president Ashwani Sharma had to face the heat of farmers protest.

Samyukta Kisan Morcha, the umbrella body of farmers' agitation, expressed its 'regret' over the incident and said that they do not encourage such behaviour.

However, SKM alleged that BJP and its allies were responsible for this incident.

"The central leadership of the BJP is rooted in its ego and instead of solving the problems of the farmers, they are busy in the elections, but local leaders are facing the bitter results of this behaviour of the central government," it said in a statement.