Varun calls for talks with farmers; BJP leaders say won’t impact poll prospects

EVEN AS central leaders of the BJP maintained that Jat leader Rakesh Tikait’s call at the Muzaffarnagar Mahapanchayat to vote against the party would not do much damage to its prospects in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh election, party MP Varun Gandhi on Sunday called for “re-engagement” with the protesting farmers.

“Lakhs of farmers have gathered in protest today, in Muzaffarnagar. They are our own flesh and blood. We need to start re-engaging with them in a respectful manner: understand their pain, their point of view and work with them in reaching common ground,” the Pilibhit MP tweeted as farmer leaders spearheading the protests against the contentious farm laws held a massive rally in Muzaffarnagar.

Although the BJP did not react to Gandhi’s call officially, party leaders argued that neither the mobilisation of the Jats nor Tikait’s call to vote against the BJP could damage the party’s prospects while some admitting that “it is a matter of concern, but our efforts on regaining the ground is continuing”.

Party leaders said the central government’s moves to clear sugarcane dues and the MSPs paid by the state government could offset any potential damage.

At least three senior BJP leaders – from Uttar Pradesh – pointed out that the protests against the farm laws are confined to Western Uttar Pradesh where it is limited to the Jat community. “Since it is seen as a Jat agitation, there could be a consolidation of non-Jat communities against it. These farmers are considered to be affluent and the small farmers in the state have so far shown no signs that they support this agitation,” said a BJP MP.

Party leaders said the central government’s moves to clear sugarcane dues and the MSPs paid by the state government could offset any potential damage.

At least three senior BJP leaders – from Uttar Pradesh – pointed out that the protests against the farm laws are confined to Western Uttar Pradesh where it is limited to the Jat community. “Since it is seen as a Jat agitation, there could be a consolidation of non-Jat communities against it. These farmers are considered to be affluent and the small farmers in the state have so far shown no signs that they support this agitation,” said a BJP MP.