Will probe the Karnal episode, farmers too may face action: Vij
AMBALA: Amid continued calls for action against those who ordered the August 28 lathi charge in Karnal, Haryana home minister Anil Vij said on Thursday that the state will investigate “the entire episode”, and warned that farm leaders, too, could face action if they’re found to be at fault.
On August 28, around 10 protesters were hurt in clashes with police in Karnal as farmers tried to march towards the venue of a BJP meeting, in which the chief minister and other senior state leaders were present, as part of their ongoing protest to repeal the centre’s farm laws.
Farm leaders have claimed that a protester died during the clashes, an allegation rejected by the administration.
The farmers have also demanded a case of murder against SDM Ayush Sinha, who was caught on tape allegedly telling policemen to “break heads” if protesters crossed the line during the August 28 rally. Sinha has since been transferred and posted as additional secretary of Citizen Resources Information Department (CRID), as per government order.
Talking to reporters on Thursday, the minister made it clear that “nobody can be hanged without a probe just because someone demands it”.
“The inquiry will not only be limited to the actions of sub-divisional magistrate (Ayush Sinha). The entire sequence of events will be looked into. Whoever is found guilty, be it the farmers or their leaders, action will be taken accordingly,” he said.
However, he added, “Only genuine demands (of farmers protesting in Karnal) can be accepted.” “We cannot hang anyone because someone says so. Is the country’s IPC (Indian Penal Code) different and the farmers’ IPC different? It cannot be like this and punishment is always given as per the offence committed. To find out the offence, a probe has to be conducted,” said Vij referring to their demand of suspending the IAS officer.
About the farmers protesting in Karnal, Vij said everyone has the right to hold a protest in a peaceful manner.
Vij’s comments come amid a growing stand-off between the state and farmers protesting last month’s lathi charge.
On Wednesday, protesting farmers said they might have to keep a permanent protest site in Karnal as talks with the state remained inconclusive for a second consecutive day.