BAREILLY: BJP candidate Harendra Singh Rinku was chased away by angry locals on Monday night while he was campaigning in Shakarpur village under Sambhal's Asmoli constituency.
In a widely circulated video, some could be seen purportedly saying that BJP had "planted spikes at the Ghazipur border to disrupt the peaceful farmers' agitation." They alleged that BJP workers "opened fire" at protesting farmers (in Lakhimpur Kheri), besides "using water cannons and tear gas". One of them said, "We would not allow any BJP leader to enter the village."
Sources said that the people who protested against the BJP candidates were from a farmers' union. One of the protesters said, "We can't forget what the BJP did to farmers. We will not vote for any BJP candidate."
Meanwhile, Singh told TOI, "There were a few men who initially talked to me by introducing themselves as farmers. Later, we found that they were SP workers who tried to disrupt peace. I have requested the district panchayati raj officer to look at the condition of the village and complete all the pending work there. The village head is supporting us and I met many locals who promised to vote for BJP. They are unhappy with the SP candidate as no promises were fulfilled by her."
The sitting MLA from Asmoli is the SP's Pinki Yadav. She had won the seat in 2012 too.
