Several BJP leaders were today arrested on Jhajjar-Rohtak road when they attempted to march to Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda's residence in Rohtak to urge him to announce Rs 150 per quintal bonus for wheat.
The protesters intended to hold a demonstration outside Hooda's residence but they were stopped by police at Birdhana turn near Dujana village on the Jhajjar-Rohtak road here.
The arrested leaders were released by police after around two hours.
Later, the BJP leaders described the police action as "repressive" and alleged that the state government was making unsuccessful attempts to suppress the voice of poor farmers who were struggling to earn their livelihood due to "anti-farmer" policies of the government.
Several BJP workers had gathered at grain market this morning and lambasted the government for not announcing bonus for wheat crops.
Addressing the party workers, BJP Kisan Morcha president Om Prakash Dhankhar said the farmers had to bear a cost of Rs 1,400 per quintal for the production of wheat crop while the government had been giving just Rs 1,350 as MSP which was Rs 50 less than actual cost of production.
"In this situation, the farmers have no option but to declare a war against the government to get their right," he said, adding that when the governments of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh can announce Rs 150 per quintal as a bonus to their farmers for their wheat crops, then why can't Hooda government do the same.
State BJP chief Ram Bilas Sharma said the government should announce bonus for wheat crops and implement the recommendation of Farmer Commission and Agriculture Income Insurance Policy without further delay if it really wished the welfare of farmers.
