New Delhi:
The Haryana police have cracked down on protesting farmers at a toll plaza close to Haryana’s Karnal, ahead of Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar’s check out to a nearby village. Cellphone footage from the spot showed police firing tear gas shells, water cannons at farmers who are attempting to enter the Kemla village. The Chief Minister is scheduled to attend a farmers’ gathering at the village and speak of the rewards of the Centre’s 3 farm laws passed in September.
Heavy presence of police personnel has been observed at the village ahead of the meeting.
BJP-ruled Haryana had created headlines in November when it decided to quit the farmers on way to Delhi from across the state as effectively as these in Punjab.
For days, there have been reports and video footage of the police clashing with farmers, utilizing batons, barricades, tear gas and water cannons.
Following the large criticism, the Central government had decided to conduct a large outreach programme to dispel “misconceptions” about the laws.
But more than the final week, the Chief Minister’s outreach programme had run into problems in this region as farmers hardened their stance in Delhi.
On Friday, the nearby protesters had clashed with the villagers and the nearby BJP workers, who are advertising the check out. The face-off began when the villagers did not let the farmers to enter into the village to register their protest.
Today, Congress’s Randeep Surjewala tweeted: “Respected Manohar Lal ji, please stop this pretence of Kisan Mahapanchayat in Kaimla village. By playing with the sentiments of those who provide us with food, please stop meddling with the law and order situation”.
“If you want to have a conversation, have it with those who have been protesting for the last 46 days,” study a further tweet from Mr Surjewala.