FAR-RIGHT thugs linked to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party were accused of cowardice today for allegedly threatening to kill protesting farmers.

The All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) condemned efforts to instigate violence against peaceful demonstrators and death threats to leaders of the movement posted on social media by “Sanghi cyber goons.”

Sanghi is another name for the Hindu nationalist Rashtriya Swayamsevakh Sangh (RSS), a paramilitary organisation associated with Mr Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

They are accused of threatening to shoot AIKS leader Dr Ajit Nawale if he continued to campaign against the BJP government.

RSS supporters were also accused of trying to create “civil strife” and orchestrate attacks on farmers with the connivance of police in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. 

In a statement, the AIKS said: “No farmer leader is going to be cowed down by such cowardly threats or threats of police action.

“The ruling classes are rattled by the growing strength of the farmers’ movement, despite the malicious campaign by the BJP government and corporate media and resorting to such cowardly actions. 

“AIKS calls upon all democratic sections to come out in support of the farmers and isolate the organised violent gangs and their masters.”