Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has cancelled his ‘Kisan Mahapanchayat’ visit to Kaimla village, Karnal, after farmers protesting against the three farm bills vandalised the venue. Protesters took over the stage, destroying equipment and even damaging the helipad where Khattar was due to arrive. Police dispersed the farmers using tear gas.
Hundreds of farmers swarmed the venue, and were met by a police lathi-charge, teargas, and water cannons. After capturing the stage, farmers said they were ready to face the police lathis.
According to Indian Express, the farmers managed to breach six checkpoints to arrive near the helipad where Khattar was due to land, forcing authorities to shift the landing spot to a different location.
Khattar’s visit was intended to communicate to farmers the “misconceptions” about the farm bills. It comes after the eighth round of talks between farmers and the Centre failed on Friday, prompting the Centre to await the Supreme Court’s next hearing on the issue, likely on January 11. The ninth round of talks will take place on January 15, after that.
Anticipating a drawn-out battle, farmers have announced protest plans as far as Republic Day, with the recently-held tractor rally merely a “teaser” for Republic Day. “We will participate in the parade on January 26. The tanks will be on one side and the tractors on the other,” Bhartiya Kisan Union spokesperson Rakesh Tikat was quoted as saying.
Earlire, the Congress on Saturday asked the Centre why it wants farmer groups opposed to the new agricultural reforms to move the Supreme Court and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should quit if he is not competent enough to repeal them.
People have elected the government and not the Supreme Court, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said.
He also announced that the Congress will observe 'Kisan Adhikar Diwas' (Farmers' Rights Day) on January 15, when the government and the farmer unions will meet for the next round of talks, and hold 'Jan Andolans' at all state headquarters. The party will hold protest marches and gherao the governor's office in every state.
Khattar blames Congress, Communists for incident
Addressing the media in Chandigarh, Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar said he gave directions to land his chopper in Karnal keeping in mind the law and order situation.
He held the Congress and Communists responsible for this incident, saying such andhergardi is not acceptable. If anybody is involved in this agitation, it is the Congress and Communists, he claimed.
Khattar said some farmer leaders who had assured not to disrupt the event backtracked from their promise. I want to state that there is a strong democracy in the country and everybody has the right to put forth his point, he said.
He said those who were behind the act have defamed the farming community. Our farmers do not involve in such things, he said. The CM said whatever he wanted to say to people in the kisan mahapanchayat was said by party leaders who were present there.
To a question, Khattar denied that there was any intelligence failure behind this incident.
Reacting to the incident, Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda said the government should avoid confrontation with farmers.
"Farmers have certain apprehensions over the new farm Acts. The government should rather repeal these Acts as desired by farmers and avoid confrontation with them by holding functions like the mahapanchayat," he said.
The former CM reiterated his demand of convening a session of the state assembly.
"This government has lost the faith of its legislators and people. The Congress wants to bring a no-confidence motion against the Khattar government," he said.
Haryana Congress chief Kumari Selja said the mahapanchayat convened by Khattar did not get support from people.
"The government has lost the trust of people," she said.
With inputs from PTI