Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Union Minister of State for Animal Husbandry Sanjeev Balyan has alleged that the clash between BJP and Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) supporters in Muzaffarnagar's Soram village was instigated by an announcement made through a mosque, reports ANI.

At least three to four people were injured on Monday (22 February) during the clash at Soram village where Balyan had gone to pay homage to a deceased local and an argument ensued between the two sides.

"Ten to twelve family members of a Samajwadi Party candidate misbehaved with me in Bhaisnwal village. Five to six Lok Dal workers did the same when I was in Soram village to attend a function. After I left, a clash erupted. Announcements were made from mosque to unite against me," Balyan said.

Balyan has reportedly urged the local authorities to probe the clash. He further said that people involved in the clash were not farmers but office-bearers of the RLD.

According to the ANI report, Western Uttar Pradesh has been witnessing a number of farmers’ "mahapanchayats" amid the protest against the Centre’s three farm laws.

Alarmed with these “mahapanchayts” in western Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, the BJP high command held a meeting with leaders from the two regions and directed them to reach out to people in their constituencies to counter the narrative being built against the three legislations.