NEW DELHI: Union Minister of Culture and Minister of State of External affairs Meenakshi Lekhi slammed protesting farmers calling them 'mawali' (hooligans) after she was asked about incidents of alleged violence during their protests at Jantar Mantar.

During her press conference held at the BJP headquarters, when a reporter asked her about alleged reports that the farmers had attacked a camera covering their protests at Jantar Mantar, Lekhi said, "You should stop calling them farmers because they are not farmers, they are hooligans."

She continued, "They are playing in the hands of some conspirators. Farmers don't have time to sit in Jantar Mantar. They are working in their farms. Middlemen are behind them (protestors) who do not want farmers to get benefits."

However, her comments denouncing the farmers created a furore and invited sharp reactions from several quarters. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh demanded her 'immediate resignation' and said her remarks reflect the BJP’s 'anti-farmer' mindset.

Lekhi later tweeted and claimed that her comments were 'twisted' and 'distorted' and that she withdraws her words if they have hurt anyone.

Meanwhile, Delhi police said that a cameraperson of one TV news channel was injured after he entered into a scuffle with a YouTuber at Jantar Mantar, where a group of 200 farmers had started a protest against the new farm laws earlier in the day.