The Samyukt Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of farmer unions, has responded harshly to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement that he "somehow saved his life" during the security breach in Punjab on Wednesday.
The Bharatiya Kisan Union (Krantikari), a farmers' organization, spearheaded the farmers' protest on Wednesday that blocked the Moga-Ferozepur highway, forcing the Prime Minister's convoy to turn back without addressing the political rally.
PM Modi addressed employees at the Bhatinda airport, "Apne CM ko thanks kehna, ki mein Bhatinda airport tak zinda laut paaya (Thank your Chief Minister that I could make it alive to the Bathinda airport)."
"It is with great regret that, in order to cover up the failure of his rally, the Prime Minister has attempted to malign both the state of Punjab and the farmers' movement under the pretext of "somehow saving his life," the Samyukt Kisan Morcha said in a statement.
"The whole country knows that if there is a threat to anyone's life, it is to the farmers from ministers like Ajay Mishra Teni. The United Kisan Morcha expects the country's Prime Minister not to make such reckless comments while preserving the dignity of his position "According to the SKM's statement.
According to the farmers' association, it is "obvious from the footage of the event" that the protesting farmers did not make any effort to go towards the Prime Minister's convoy.
"Only a group saying "Narendra Modi Zindabad" and waving the BJP flag had gotten close to the convoy. As a result, the threat to the Prime Minister's life appears to be entirely concocted "The SKM lashed out at the BJP.
The Prime Minister was visiting Punjab for the first time in around two years, shortly after his government repealed the contentious farm laws in the wake of a year-long farmer protest.
The farmers, however, were holding a symbolic protest over their unresolved demands including the dismissal of Union minister Ajay Mishra, whose son has been detained in the case involving the death of farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri, according to the SKM.
The BJP has accused the Congress of having "murderous intents" and purposefully putting the Prime Minister in danger.
Smriti Irani, a Union minister and senior BJP leader, said on Wednesday that the Congress administration in Punjab gave political support to planted political instruments in order to violate PM Modi's security.
The Congress claimed the BJP should reconsider its "anti-farmer" stance, which led to farmers protesting against the Prime Minister during his visit to Punjab.
Senior party leader Randeep Sigh Surjewala stated the protesters were not terrorists and were protesting PM Modi and the BJP's "anti-farmer" agenda.
