Atishi Requests from BJP PM Modi for Engagement with Farmers Instead of Sermons

Delhi Chief Minister Atishi has demanded the Bharatiya Janata Party to ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address the troubled farmers rather than just sermonizing them. This came as a reaction to BJP's accusations against the Aam Aadmi Party government after a letter from Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, in which he stated that the Delhi government is inconsiderate towards farmers' problems.

Atishi has given a vigorous reply, stating that such talk of farmers from the BJP is nothing more than empty rhetoric. She compared BJP on farming to “Dawood Ibrahim sermonizing about non-violence,” establishing the parallel between the actions like that of a notorious criminal and BJP implying that there is no truth in their concern for farmers.

The context of their bitter remarks would be a farmer agitation ongoing in Punjab and Haryana. Farmers in large numbers have been staging dharnas at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders since February 13 under the banners of Samyukta Kisan Morcha and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha. They attempted to march to Delhi, but security forces stopped them and are now pressing for their demands for better treatment and facilities.

Atishi's comments also show the fact that tussling continues between them between AAP and the BJP on how to handle farmers. While the AAP may be considered guilty by the BJP in not addressing farmers' problems, especially the BJP's non-implementation of central schemes in Delhi, Atishi said that the BJP is only busy in political maneuvering and not interested in a real solution to farmers' problems.

Both of these verbal harangues set aflame the political climate in Delhi as it heads toward upcoming Assembly elections. Both parties still accuse one another and call themselves the real supporters of farmers' welfare.