On the first day of his election campaign when Hans Raj was doing a roadshow, he faced protests from farmer unions at three places. However, he remained undeterred. Standing in an open jeep, he showered flower petals on protesters. “Let them protest. I am a farm labourer’s son and I can understand their pain. I am here to spread the message of love on Faridkot’s land. I have only affection for them.” Hans Raj had said.

Hans Raj had stated that he would go around barefoot (but with socks on) while campaigning in Faridkot, and one can see him keeping his word while on the stump in this hot weather. Hans Raj, while talking to The Indian Express, said, “I am fighting polls to serve people. I don’t feel annoyed because of their (farmers) protests. In fact, if they choose me and send me to the Parliament, I will surely try to get their issues resolved.”

On April 9, Ravneet Singh Bittu, BJP candidate from Ludhiana, said, “Everyone has a right to protest, but I must say PM Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are concerned about the state of farmers in Punjab and they want to resolve their problems on priority. I will ensure that there are no farmers’ protests and they are called for a meeting with the PM after the elections. After the new government is formed at the Centre on June 4, I will lead the farmers’ delegation for a meeting with the central government.”

These days Bittu is campaigning in the urban areas of Ludhiana. Sources said, he is holding meetings with sarpanchs and other rural leaders before going ahead full throttle in Ludhiana villages.

Parampal Kaur Sidhu, a former IAS officer and daughter-in-law of senior Akali leader Sikander Singh Maluka, is the BJP candidate from Bathinda parliamentary seat. Sidhu too has been at the receiving end of the farmers’ ire for the past few days in the Maur area of Bathinda. But, just like Hans Raj and Bittu, she too said, “ I am from this area only and farmers know me well. They have the right to protest, but I am here to get them their political support. I am sure they will listen to my appeal.”

On Wednesday also she bore the brunt of farmers’ wrath in Maur when she came to address a meeting of the party workers.

“Party meetings are going hand in hand with farmer unions’ protests at a distance. No programme is being cancelled. How-ever, Parampal’s visit to the meeting venue was cut short Wednesday, apparently to avoid farmers’ fury,” said a BJP leader said.

However, the BJP candidates are trying their best to reach out to the angry farmers. “In a democracy everyone has the right to protest. Let farmers set up a stage and air their grievances and demands. Let the political leaders do their canvassing. The party leaders have a right to get their political support and votes while electioneering,” said a BJP leader on the condition of anonymity.

BJP candidate and former diplomat Taranjeet Singh Sandhu and Patiala sitting BJP MP Preneet Kaur, who has again been fielded from the seat, had also been taking the heat from angry farmers.

Bittu said, “It was the Akali Dal that had misguided the Centre on the now-repealed three central farm bills by giving false opinion of farmers on the bills. Initially, they supported the bills and later did a U-turn after facing protests from the farmers. Badals stabbed farmers in the back for their own political existence. After the elections are over, we will take farmers for a meeting with the PM.”

However, despite assurances from BJP candidates, farmer unions are sticking to their guns and are continuing with their protests against them.

When contacted Preneet Kaur’s office, information revealed that she had been meeting the families of farmers who got injured while protesting at Shambhu border. She had met them before the code of conduct came into force. Sources at her office said, “We feel that those families are with us and if a section of farmers wants to protest, it’s their right in a democracy.”