The Union Minister for Information and Broadcast, Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Thakur who embarked on his ‘Jan Ashirwad Yatra’ for Himachal Pradesh from Himachal Bhawan, Sector 28 in Chandigarh, faced farmers' protest on Thursday.
Thakur was shown black flags by farmers in protest against the three contentious farm laws passed by the central government last year. Four protesting farmers were arrested by Chandigarh Police and later released. The yatra which, is aimed at seeking blessings of the people, will be visiting all four parliamentary constituencies in Himachal Pradesh.
Meanwhile, a heavy police force was deployed to ensure that no untoward incident takes place at the venue and during the yatra. A rousing reception was given to the Union Minister by senior BJP leaders including Himachal Pradesh in-charge Sanjay Tandon and Chandigarh BJP President Arun Sood Himachal BJP State president Suresh Kashyap, Yuva Morcha leaders, workers and a large number of BJP supporters.
Thakur reached Himachal Bhawan at 10 am and flagged off the Jan Ashirwad Yatra. As the yatra reached near the middle of the city, the farmers’ supporters already standing there showed black flags to the Union Minister and started shouting anti-central government slogans. The policemen present there took four protesting farmers into custody and later released, said Chandigarh Police Headquarter DSP Ram Gopal.