Stir aimed at derailing state’s economy: Dushyant

CHANDIGARH: Advising Haryana farmers to understand the murky politics behind the ongoing stir against Centre’s three farm laws and why Haryana remains the epicentre of the protests, deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala said on Sunday the only objective of the agitation is to destabilise the state, derail its economy and destroy its robust agriculture.

Asking the peasantry to understand why this movement has not crossed into neighbouring Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, the deputy CM while addressing the media said some people of Punjab are creating law and order problems in Haryana.

Upcoming assembly elections in Punjab and UP are another reason behind some forces desperately trying to keep the stir alive, he said.

“Gullible farmers of Haryana are being used by outsiders as a shield to run the agitation and the state peasantry should seethrough such nefarious designs of the anti-Haryana elements,”

he added.

“Majority of the 40 leaders of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, spearheading the agitation, are from Punjab and UP but highways are blocked in Haryana. Why?” Dushyant said, accusing Congress of adopting ‘shoot and

scoot’ policy.

“Why is Haryana the epicentre of the agitation? Why are there no road blockades in Punjab and UP after Saturday’s developments in Haryana? It’s because they want Haryana to remain in turmoil so that its economy and agriculture can be weakened,” he said.

The deputy CM said what is the objective of the ongoing agitation when Haryana has been procuring foodgrains smoothly and giving MAS, besides opening new mandis.

“Former Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar and later his successor Navjot Singh Sidhu have repeatedly praised agriculture practices of Haryana, admitting that agriculture in Punjab has failed due to flawed policies. It is also due to this reason that some people in Punjab are causing an unrest in Haryana,” he said.

Karnal DC comes in support of SDM Sinha

KARNAL: Karnal deputy commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav has come in support of SDM Ayush Sinha. Yadav said the SDM’s intent was right and the directions were issued as per the ground situation.

“I condemn some words heard in the video but the SDM is a sincere and upright officer and had said some words in the heat of the moment while briefing the cops,” the DC said in an interaction with the media a day after lathi-charge on farmers in Karnal. He said this was the last checkpoint where the SDM was briefing the cops. Had the farmers crossed this checkpoint, it would have created a law and order situation, he said.

“This is not the complete video. He had told the cops to ensure that farmers don’t cross the checkpost,” he added.

JJP leader quits over police action on farmers

KARNAL: Expressing her anguish over the “silence” of her party’s leadership on the lathicharge on farmers in Karnal on Saturday, Jannayak Janta Party leader from Kurukshetra, Santosh Dahiya, quit the party.

“I’m hurt with the police action on farmers. Being a part of the coalition government, the JJP had a responsibility to speak up against it. I have decided to quit the party,” said Dahiya.

She said she has not talked to any senior party leader yet.

“I just want to ask people in government don’t farmers have a right to raise their voice? This is murder of the democracy,” she added.