India's female wrestler-turned-BJP politician Babita Phogat was shown black flags by agitated farmers in Haryana state when she visited Charkhi Dadri city to address public events.
The programmes were being organised as part of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) ‘Seva Hi Sangathan’ (Organisation Means Service) public campaign on the occasion of the seventh anniversary of the Narendra Modi-led government on Sunday.
Phogat earned national fame by winning a gold medal in the 2014 Commonwealth Games and silver medals at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and 2010 Commonwealth Games, as well as a bronze medal at the 2012 World Wrestling Championships.
Having joined BJP in 2019, she was appointed as the chairperson of the Haryana Women Development Corporation by the State's Manohar Lal Khattar-led government last year.
The agitating farmers, who have announced a “boycott” of BJP-JJP (Jannayak Janta Party) leaders in the Stat, as part of their protests against the new farm laws, gathered near Birhi Kalan village carrying black flags.
— Anshuman Sail (@AnshumanSail) May 30, 2021
According to media reports, when the local police tried to clear the route of Phogat's vehicle, the farmers laid down on the road and kept chanting slogans, while waving black flags amid her visit.
Meanwhile, some video clips of Sunday's incident which have surfaced on social media show a confrontation took place between the agitators and police trying to clear the road for the BJP leader.
In the videos, protesters can be seen raising slogans such as “Babita Phogat murdabad - Haryana sarkar murdabad” (Down with Babita Phogat, down with the Haryana Government). Some female protesters could also be seen trying to stop the procession.
Babita Phogat Welcomed by Farmers .
— Armaan (@Mehboobp1) May 30, 2021
Recently Babita abused farmers and called them anti - nationals .#FarmersProtest
pic.twitter.com/wVMkb8q6LB
#Farmers protest against the #BJPLeader and wrestler #BabitaPhogat in Birhi kalan village of Charkhi Dadri district in #Haryana today. @thetribunechd pic.twitter.com/tQ3tES6EEk
— Deepender Deswal (@deependerdeswal) May 30, 2021
On Sunday, Haryana's State Chief Manohar Lal Khattar also stated that the farmers' agitation is one of the reasons behind the spread of COVID-19; some of them are witnessing a much higher death rate than usual.
His statement angered the farmers, who suggested if the State Chief thinks that they might further spread the coronavirus, he shouldn't be calling on 500 people to attend the inauguration of a hospital.
Previously, Khattar had urged the protesting farmers to return to their homes due to the ongoing pandemic and resume their demonstrations once the situation normalises.
Last Wednesday, some farmers in Haryana and Punjab states put up black flags atop their houses, burnt effigies, and held protests. It was done to mark the six month anniversary of their agitation on Delhi's borders against the farm laws.
Earlier this month, farmers blocked the highway at the Haryana-Punjab border a thet Shambhu toll plaza near Ambala city after police charged farmers protesting against State Chief Khattar.
There have been no talks or discussions between the protesting farmers and the Indian government since 26 January, when violence was witnessed at Delhi's iconic Red Fort during the farmers' 'Tractor Rally'.
On Delhi's outskirts, farmers have been camping since September to protest against the three agricultural laws passed by the Parliament in September 2020. Farmers fear the new laws will open up the country's agriculture sector to private companies and end the minimum support price (MSP) state procurement system.
