Ambala:
Haryana ex-home minister Anil Vij on Tuesday publicly took responsibility for police firing on protesting farmers at Punjab-Haryana borders, following the call of Delhi Chalo 2.0 in February this year.
Vij reached Panjokhra Sahib village in Ambala district on Tuesday, while campaigning for BJP Ambala Lok Sabha candidate Banto Kataria, where some farmers were protesting with black flags in their hands while raising anti-BJP slogans.Vij then stopped his car to talk to the protesting farmers, who confronted him with a round of questions as per the call given by Bharatiya Kisan Union Shaheed Bhagat Singh (BKU SBS).
Replying to question raised by farmers regarding police firing on protesting farmers on Haryana borders, Vij said
“Goli
kisi ke bhi adesh se chali,
mai us waqt home minister tha, mai uski jimmevari leta hun, as I cannot run away”
(Firing was done on whosoever’s order, I was home minister then, I take its responsibility, as I cannot run away). Vij added that the matter is under investigation.
The farmers replied to him that if you are taking its responsibility then an FIR must be registered. “If we say anything to you, FIR will be registered against us immediately, why not an FIR be registered against you”, replied the protesting farmers.
When asked by farmers about the action in the matter of police firing, Anil Vij replied, “Now, I am not a minister and I am your brother. I did not run away like other leaders after seeing the protesting farmers but I have myself come to listen to your talks.”
Vij said he is now only their MLA for doing work. “I can resolve your problems as an MLA. Do you accept that I did work in Panjokhra Sahib during my tenure”, said Vij to farmers, to which the latter replied yes.
A farmer said to Vij, “You will be the chief minister.” To this, Vij said, “You do not stand with me. In such a situation, how will they make the chief minister from Ambala.”
Vij stood to listen to the protestors and replied to them until they were pacified. Later, the farmers also welcomed Vij while saying that he should leave BJP and they will make him win again if he contests as an independent candidate.
The farmers also raised demands from Vij to open the Shambhu border on the National Highway 44, law guaranteeing MSP and release the farm activists jailed during the protest. To this, Vij said he is not in this capacity to speak or decide on these matters.
One farmer Shubhkaran Singh of Bathinda district of Punjab was allegedly killed in police firing which came from the Haryana side on Khanauri border. In February, the farmers mainly from Punjab and Haryana in their attempt to march to Delhi with their demands had reached Haryana borders, where they were stopped by state police with support of paramilitary forces using heavy firing of teargas shells, rubber bullets. The farmers also alleged Haryana police fired actual bullets, one of which hit Shubhkaran Singh. The case related to the death of Shubhkaran Singh is being monitored by a panel formed by the Punjab and Haryana high court.