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News Desk: Ruling Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) MLA Devender Singh Babli Tuesday faced a protest by a group of farmers in Fatehabad and was shown black flags, following which he accused them of launching a “murderous attempt” on him and leaving his personal assistant injured.
Babli also alleged that some protesters resorted to unruly behaviour, used abusive language and smashed the windscreen of his SUV, while the agitators accused him of hurling abusive words and sought an apology.
The incident happened when the legislator was on his way to attend an event on administering the anti-Covid vaccines to the physically challenged at the civil hospital in Tohana.
Babli, the MLA from Tohana constituency in Fatehabad district, stopped in a market in Tohana to make some purchases.
Some farmers, protesting against the Centre’s new farm laws, who had gathered there blocked his vehicle and started raising slogans and showing black flags to him.
Several farmer groups in the state has been opposing public functions of BJP-JJP leaders in the state.
Babli later told reporters that such protest cannot be by farmers and claimed that some elements, who he alleged indulged in unruly behaviour, smashed his SUV’s a windscreen, leaving his personal assistant injured.
“In the garb of farmers, some unruly elements tried to make a murderous attempt on me,” he told reporters in Tohana.
Referring to Tuesday’s and similar incidents of protests against BJP-JJP leaders in the recent past, Babli said he will urge his party leader and Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala and Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar that “we need to strengthen law and order in Haryana”.
“If such unruly elements get emboldened they can start taking lives. We have seen how militancy destroyed Punjab, now Haryana is going in the same direction. We need to stop this,” Babli said.
Detailing the sequence of events, Babli alleged that even before protesters gathered in a large number, some men in a green-coloured jeep hit his SUV thrice with their vehicle while others blocked the way when he tried to leave.
“They raised slogans and used abusive language. They cannot be farmers. I am also a son of farmer. Holding protest is democratic right of farmers or anyone else, but indulging in acts of goondaism and trying to take anyone’s life is not right. By doing such acts, they are trying to defame farmers,” he said.
As the protesters held up Babli’s vehicle, police force reached the spot in strength and tried to bring the situation under control.
A farmer leader alleged the MLA came out of his vehicle and started using abusive language after which the protesters became furious.
“Holding protest is our democratic right which we were doing in a peaceful manner. However, Babli came out of his vehicle and used abusive language,” he said, demanding the legislator tender an apology.
However, the legislator said it was the other side which used abusive and threatening language.
