JD(U) seeks action against BJP leaders for forcing farmers to harvest crop early

Patna,(BiharTimes): Following a report published in The Telegraph (Oct 15) the Janata Dal (United) on Thursday demanded that the Election Commission take action against leaders of Bharatiya Janata Party, who have allegedly forced over 150 farmers of Hajipur in Vaishali district, to harvest their paddy crops nearly a month ahead of schedule to facilitate a proposed rally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 25.

The report said as to how the construction of a cement stage had led to them worrying about their livelihoods even beyond the rally date. The farmers are keeping vigil at night to ensure that BJP men did not cut their crop.

According to JD(U) chief spokesperson Sanjay Singh due to the forced premature harvesting in about 22 acres of agricultural land located on the Jandaha Road connecting Jandaha with Hajipur each farmer would lose between Rs 30,000 and Rs 1 lakh.

"Even farmers living near this plot are terrified about their crop being damaged due to the proposed rally," Singh said, accusing the BJP of failing the farmers even when the state was facing drought.

Calling the BJP's move "inhuman, Singh said most of the affected farmers belonged to the downtrodden classes. He also alleged that a BJP supporter, who was a real estate developer, planned to "take over" the land to build apartments.

According to the newspaper the BJP’s reaction has been contradictory. While the party’s Vaishali unit president, said he had the written consent of farmers whose land has been taken for the event, the party's state unit president Mangal Pandey had said he was not aware of any such rally by the Prime Minister.

Reports from Jehanabad said that standing crop was destroyed as a big crowd gathered at the venue of PM Narendra Modi’s rally on October 12.