Day after, uneasy calm at Karnal village
KARNAL: An uneasy calm prevailed at Kaimla village, 10km from Karnal, on Monday, a day after farmers protesting against the Centre’s farm laws vandalised the venue of a pro-farm laws programme that was to be addressed by chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar, forcing him to cancel the programme.
There was no police deployment inside the village but Karnal superintendent of police Ganga Ram Punia said additional police personnel have been deputed at Gharaunda police station to deal with any untoward incident but the situation is under control.
The SP said that three people were taken into custody on Sunday night and 71 people, including Bhartiya Kisan Union Haryana president Gurnam Singh Charuni, was booked for rioting and assault on public servants.
Vandalism brings rift among villagers to fore
Meanwhile, Sunday’s vandalism has brought to fore the rift among residents over the farm laws. Videos of the incident being circulated on social media show women of Kaimla village supporting the protesters and offering them water.
“This incident has divided our village and we fear the tension may continue for months,” said a resident, Sonu Kumar.
Villagers accused the police of not stopping the protesters even though they were fewer in number than the personnel deployed. “Additional forces from other districts were called and several senor police officials, including the additional director general of police, law and order, SPs and DSPs, were deputed along with thousands of cops yet they didn’t prevent the protesters from damaging the venue. This is a police and administrative failure,” a resident said, requesting anonymity.
“Besides announcing developmental projects for our village, the chief minister was to attend a programme at the local temple but everything was destroyed in minutes,” said a villager, Gulab Singh. Another resident, Paramjit Singh, said the incident had tarnished the image of the village. Sarpanch Sunil Kumar said: “The situation is now under control and the villagers are united as most of them are in favour of the programme.”
Selja seeks CM’s resignation
Describing the use of water cannons and tear gas by police to quell the protest as an attack on the state’s pride, Haryana Congress president Kumari Selja sought Khattar’s resignation.
“The BJP-Jannayak Janata Party government’s cruelty on farmers is an attack on the pride of the state and now the chief minister is accusing the Congress of it,” Selja said in a tweet. She said that the chief minister has lost the confidence of the people of Haryana and should resign on moral grounds besides apologising.
DGP visits district
Haryana DGP Manoj Yadava on Monday visited Karnal to inquire into the police lapses. The state police had deputed a DG-rank officer, range inspector general and six superintendents of police besides a heavy posse of cops for the event in view of the protest call given by Charuni. Sources said the DGP tried to find out why the police were found wanting. “It was very clear that the agitating farmers would try to disrupt the mahapanchayat. Ideally, the government should have put off the event. However, once it was decided to go ahead with it, the police should have ensured that there was no rowdyism and disruptions,” said an official.