Patiala: BJP claims Akali Dal is the cause of the farmers’ request for a boycott

In the lead-up to the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP and SAD, once allies, are at odds.

Preneet Kaur, the BJP candidate, claimed the remark had a political overtone and that it was made by a few people who were supporting Shiromani Akali Dal candidate NK Sharma. This came a day after farmers in 24 villages stated they would boycott BJP and AAP candidates and protest if they came into their villages to solicit votes.

She made this statement while speaking with reporters on the sidelines of a party gathering that state BJP president Sunil Jakhar and former Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani had arranged for party members.

Rupani and Jakhar chose not to speak to the media, but Preneet attacked SAD, accusing the Panther Party of disseminating lies.

The long-stalled Northern Bypass project was given approval in 2021 under Capt. Amarinder Singh’s Congress administration. The property was supposed to be purchased, but when Captain Amarinder Singh was replaced by Charanjit Singh Channi, the issue was shelved. The Rs 754 cr project was cleared after four meetings with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, and on Wednesday, the procurement procedure was also launched. The state government, according to her, is not making its required contribution of Rs 250 crore.

The Punjab government was tasked with determining the land compensation sum and expeditiously forwarding the recommendation to the central government.

Yesterday’s AAP news conference was led by NK Sharma rather than farmers and had political overtones. “I have been visiting the communities and addressing the concerns of the farmers. Farmers haven’t told me that they plan to prevent me from entering the villages, Preneet said.

Sharma had threatened to launch a protracted protest by SAD if the AAP administration and the BJP-led Centre did not provide a base cost of Rs 2.88 crore per acre for the 300 acres being purchased for the Northern Bypass project close to the city.