With farmers intensifying their stir against the three farm laws, residents of several villages in Baghpat have banned the entry of political parties and farmers’ associations, supporting the contentious laws. A decision to this effect was taken by a panchayat of 36 castes held in Baghpat recently.

“Anyone who is in favour of the farm laws is not welcome in these villages. If you want an entry to show your loyalty to the farmers, not to the government,” Saroorpur Kala village pradhan Jeet Singh said in Lucknow on Friday.

Singh further said that in a panchayat, members unanimously decided to ban entry of political parties and farmers’ outfit supporting the farmers’ agitation. “We do not want to share food and place with those who have an anti-farmer mindset,” he said.

Former pradhan Tejveer Singh stressed, “We do not have anything to do with any party. We are farmers and support our brethren protesting the draconian laws for the last two months – first in Punjab and now in Delhi. We disown people talking the language of the government.”

Farmers from western Uttar Pradesh have been carrying on with a sit on in Baraut of Baghpat for the last 30 days. The agitators have collected around Rs 5 lakh in form of donations for the on-going stir. The agitating farmers have changed their strategy by holding protests at different places to motivate their brethren.

On Thursday, divisional president of Bharatiya Kisan (BKU) Padam Singh organised a day-long dharna at Meerut Cantt station while on Friday, a similar protest was held in Saharanpur. On Saturday, a dharna will be held at Bijnore, followed by protests at Hapur.

The BKU has asked its district units to hold chaupals in different villages to make farmers aware as to why the farm laws were being  opposed. The decision was taken after the BJP sent its cadre to the villages with a pro-farm law booklet. “Some political parties are spreading lies. We have started countering them,” BKU leader Pritam Singh said.