Farmers Movement Archive

Farm stir: Haryana, Punjab CMs resume war of words

CHANDIGARH: Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar, who marked his government’s 2,500 days in power on Monday, blamed the Punjab government for provoking farmers and instigating violence in his state, claiming that only farmers from Punjab were protesting at the Delhi borders. This led to another war of words between the two CMs. Amarinder and Khattar, who had vociferously criticised each other at the start of the farmer protests in November 2020, again had a slanging match over the farmer stir and the violence in Karnal. ‘Farmers will indefinitely gherao Karnal secretariat’Interacting with the media persons in Chandigarh, Khattar said, “Protection of democracy is the work of administration and government. They are assigned this work. We have heard the audio and video. The choice of words of the officer was not appropriate. .. But it doesn’t mean that they cannot be strict. Rest, DGP is probing the incident and local administration too is probing. We shall act as and when it will come to us.’’ The panchayat, chaired by BKU (Charuni) national president Gurnam Singh Charuni, condemned the Karnal lathicharge and alleged that the government had deliberately targeted the farmers. Charuni said, “Several decisions have been taken in the Kisan Panchayat. We have sought suspension of some officials, including Karnal SDM and inspector Harjinder Singh after registering FIRs against them. We have demanded Rs 25 lakh compensation and a government job for the kin of farmer Sushil (who allegedlt died due to the lathicharge), and Rs 2 lakh compensation for each injured farmer.” The farmers will indefinitely gherao the Karnal secretariat on September 7 if the government fails to act on the panchayat’s demand till September 6, Charuni threatened. Urging the farmers to carry on the protest against the BJPJJP leaders, Charuni also attacked the Congress party saying that the opposition party should have come on the roads against the government's adamant attitude. Taking a challenging stance against the SKM leaders, an almost tearful Charuni asked them to spell out their future strategy. "Haryana farmers being attacked by cops and administration cannot be tolerated anymore. The SKM either takes a strong decision or forgets Haryana farmers,” The SKM too demanded that Haryana government should immediately register a case against Karnal SDM under charges of murder, in addition to dismissing him and all other officials involved in the violence in Karnal. The SKM expressed shock at the defence by Haryana CM Khattar, and issued an ultimatum for strict action till September 6 or the farmers will decide on a strong action. Citing the statement of Meghalaya governor Satya Pal Malik for immediate dismissal of the official, the SKM said, “It is utterly shocking that the CM is choosing to brush aside the barbaric and illegal instructions as only a wrong choice of words. It once again clearly reiterates what we have been saying that the Khattar government is at war with its own people.” The SKM asked the protesting farmers to boycott and organise black flag protests against leaders of BJP and allied parties in various states. The farmers’ front also termed the administration’s action of filing cases against 100 protesting farmers as shameful and asked for immediate and unconditional withdrawal of all such cases. In another development, a delegation led by the Indian National Lok Dal state president Nafe Singh Rathee submitted a complaint to the Karnal superintendent of police seeking the FIRs against the Karnal SDM and other police officials. In the complaint, Rathee alleged that a video has gone viral on social media, in which the SDM, who was the duty magistrate on that day, could be seen ordering the cops to hit the protesters on their head. Meanwhile, a state-level coordination committee has been created in Uttarakhand of Sanyukt Kisan Morcha. SAD demands judicial probeThe Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has demanded that Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar order a judicial probe into the Karnala incident, wherein SDM Ayush Sinha ordered use of force against protesting farmers on Sunday.

The Times of India

2021-08-31

Chandigarh