Karnal, Aug 28: The Haryana Police lathi-charged protesting farmers at Karnal’s Gharaunda toll plaza on Saturday. Following this, farmers’ body Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) issued a call to farmers to block all highways and toll plazas across Haryana. A mahapanchayat will be held in Nuh district on Sunday.
On the incident, Darshan Pal of SKM stated, “Despite a peaceful protest, the farmers were brutally attacked and lathi-charged. Hundreds of farmers have been detained by the police.” In a video on Facebook, he demanded their release.
Bharatiya Kisan Union’s Haryana chief Gurnam Singh Chadhuni appealed to farmers, “Continue blocking roads till all those who were detained are released by Haryana Police.”
Earlier in the day, SKM had instructed the protesters to block highways in Haryana till 5 pm on Saturday.
WHY WERE THE FARMERS PROTESTING?
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar was scheduled to attend a BJP meeting in Karnal, his own constituency, on Saturday. Besides Manohar Lal Khattar, state BJP president Om Prakash Dhankar and other senior leaders of the party were present at the meeting.
The farmers had gathered at Bastara toll plaza near Karnal to protest against the chief minister’s visit for the meeting when they were lathi-charged. At least ten farmers suffered injuries following the incident.
Farmers protesting against the farm laws have been opposing public functions of the BJP-JJP government in Haryana.
According to Haryana Additional Director General of Police Navdeep Virk, four farmers and ten police personnel were injured in the Karnal incident on Saturday. He claimed that the protesting farmers threw stones and attacked the police with sticks.
SKM’s Darshan Pal said on Saturday, “If anything else happens to any protesting farmer, the agitation will be intensified.”
ROADS BLOCKED IN PROTEST AGAINST LATHI-CHARGE
Several roads and highways, including toll plazas, were blockaded at different places in protest against the lathi charge.
The affected routes included the Fatehabad-Chandigarh, Gohana-Panipat, Jind-Patiala highways, Ambala-Kurukshetra, the Delhi highway near Karnal, Hisar-Chandigarh and Kalka-Zirakpur national highways. Several commuters were stuck on the highways for long periods of time.
Earlier in the day, the Commissionerate of Panchkula tweeted to inform people that the Surajpur toll plaza has been blocked by protesters and traffic is being diverted to other routes.
SKM DEMANDS DISMISSAL OF SDM
Samyukta Kisan Morcha has released a statement on the incident in which the organisation has demanded immediate dismissal of sub-divisional magistrate Ayush Sinha who allegedly ordered the police to “break the heads of protesters” in Karnal on Saturday. According to the statement, this order has been captured in a viral video.
Additionally, SKM said in its statement, “While PM Modi was doing a Jallianwala Bagh virtual rally, the Jallianwala Bagh unleashed in Karnal is doubly shameful. SKM warns the Khattar-Chautala government that farmers will not retreat, and the current historic movement cannot be suppressed by such barbaric acts of the anti-people government.”
CONGRESS, OTHER PARTIES CONDEMN POLICE LATHI-CHARGE
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took to Twitter to condemn the incident. He wrote in Hindi, “Yet again, the blood of farmers has been shed, bringing shame to India.”
Congress general secretary Randeep Surjewala issued a statement addressing the incident. He alleged that the BJP-led government in Haryana was “treating farmers like General Dyer”.
He wrote, “From November 25, 2020 till today, the demon-like Modi and Khattar governments have continuously attacked and shed the blood of farmer-labourers.”
“Don’t bow your head and don’t break your resolve,” Randeep Surjewala addressed the farmers in his statement.
MAHAPANCHAYAT TO BE HELD IN NUH ON SUNDAY
In Nuh district of Haryana, a mahapanchayat is being held at 11 am on Sunday. It will be attended by Yogendra Yadav and the top leadership of BKU and SKM.
This includes Rakesh Tikait, Darshan Pal, Balbir Singh Rajjewal and others.
ONGOING PROTEST AGAINST CONTENTIOUS FARM LAWS
It has been nine months since farmers arrived at the Delhi borders to protest against the three contentious farm laws that were passed in 2020. Since then, they have been demanding repeal of the three farm laws and a legal guarantee for minimum support price of all crops.
Over ten rounds of talks with the government have failed to break the deadlock between the two parties.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha, which has been spearheading the anti-farm laws protests, has called for a ‘Bharat Bandh’ on September 25 to further strengthen their agitation.
(With inputs from Kamaljit Kaur Sandhu, PTI)
651413 293625The luxury proposed might be incomparable; citizens are never fail to seeking for bags is a Native goals. The thought numerous insert goals uniquely to push diversity with visibility during the travel and leisure arena. Hotels Discounts 199703
147766 739153I was suggested this blog by way of my cousin. Im no longer confident whether or not this put up is written by him as nobody else realize such detailed about my trouble. You are amazing! Thanks! 364260