Haryana farmers storm Khattar mahapanchayat
Farmers breach 6 police checkpoints to reach venue
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar was forced to cancel his kisan mahapanchayat in Karnal on Sunday after the farmers who are protesting against the Centre’s three new agricultural reform laws uprooted tents and damaged the stage.
The police resorted to a mild lathicharge and used teargas and water cannons to stop hundreds of farmers from reaching a helipad at Kaimla village where Mr Khattar was scheduled to land.
Lashing out at Mr Khattar for using water cannons and teargas shells against the farmers, Congress leader Randeep Singh 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.” In another tweet, he said: “If you want to have a conversation, have it with those who are protesting for the last 46 days.”
In a sharp change of tack, the Centre had on Friday bluntly told the unions protesting at Delhi’s borders that the new farm laws could not be repealed, and as the talks were at a stalemate, it would be best to leave it to the Supreme Court, which is due to hear the protracted dispute on Monday.
Following huge criticism, the Centre decided to conduct a major outreach programme to dispel “misconceptions” about the laws. But over the past week, Mr Khattar’s outreach programme had run into trouble in this area as the farmers hardened their stance in Delhi.
On Sunday, all roads leading to Kaimla village were blocked by the police with the help of trucks laden with construction material, parked on the roads, to foil the entry of farmers protesting the laws. That, however, did not work. Additional forces had to be called in from nearby districts and duty magistrates were appointed to monitor the law and order in Karnal.
Over 1,500 cops were deployed for the mahapanchayat, and seven checkpoints were set up on the way to the venue. The agitating farmers, however, managed to breach six of the checkpoints and arrived near the helipad, forcing the authorities to move the landing spot for Mr Khattar’s helicopter to a different location. The farmers then moved to occupy the venue of Khattar’s mahapanchayat, where about 2,000 farmers, most of them being BJP supporters, were waiting. The protesting farmers flung chairs, tore up banners and vandalised other arrangements made for the meeting.
A clash also broke out between farmers marching towards the helipad and the police, which was trying to stop the protesters.
As the protesters reached the venue, the villagers assembled for the mahapanchayat tried to stop the protesting farmers.
The protesters outnumbered the police and the pro-mahapanchayat organisers and ransacked the venue, sending policemen scurrying for cover.