Accusing the BJP of using his photograph illegally, a farmer protesting at the Delhi border along with thousands of others have called out the party of sharing it for a ‘pro farm laws’ advertisement.
The 35-year-old farmer named Harpreet Singh said that he is going to proceed and take legal action against the BJP by sending a notice first along with his original photograph and the advertisement’s copy.
The party posted the advertisement on its Facebook page of the Punjab unit where it mentioned the plans of the Centre to roll out guaranteed prices for the harvest. While trying to use the post as a means to display the benefits of the contentious laws, it also gave the stats on government procurement of crops like rice and pulses with a picture of Harpreet Singh in the far-left corner.
The edited image of him carrying a plow was brought to Harpreet’s attention after a friend sent him the advertisement on WhatsApp. The picture was, according to him, clicked 7 years ago and taken from his social networking profile without seeking his permission.
The farmer hailing from Hoshiyarpur of Punjab, who also worked as an actor, told the media today, “Now everyone is calling me a poster boy of the BJP. I’m not. I am the poster boy of the protesting farmer.”
Harpreet said he has been supporting his farmer colleagues and staying at the Singhu border to protest against the 3 farm laws since 26th November.
Despite 5 rounds of talks, no conclusion has been reached with neither of the parties opting to negotiate. While the government is offering amendments to laws, farmers say that they want nothing but their complete scrapping.
Hence, the government is now on an outreach mission with the aim to portray the so-called advantages the laws can bring to the table for the agriculturists. PM Modi has also come forward to assure them regarding the parliamentary laws of September as the Centre sent statements, messages, and advertisements via social media posts as well to convince the farmers against the protest and repealing of the laws.
According to the government, these laws will act as massive transformation providers in the farming sector because they allegedly allow the farmers to skip middlemen and sell their crops directly into the market anywhere in the country.
However, farmers say otherwise as they believe the laws will rob them of their income and force them to get exploited by the big corporate companies, with the minimum price frame too getting rid of after the implementation of the laws.
In order to resolve the matter satisfactorily for both parties, the Supreme Court has stepped in and called for the formation of a committee, which will be dealing with the matter.
The court directed that this committee must have “independent members with knowledge of agriculture and hear both sides and give a report on what is to be done”.
As far as the protest does not cause harm to any life or property, they are allowed to be continued in the meantime, the top court added.
