Several farmers were injured as police reportedly resorted to lathicharge to disperse a group of farmers, heading towards Karnal to protest against a BJP meeting.
Farmers blocked the national highway-44 near Bastara toll plaza amid deployment of heavy police force.
The agitators had threatened to disrupt the BJP meeting in protest against the Centre’s farm laws after which police presence was stepped up in Karnal district to maintain law and order.
Bharatiya Kisan Union’s Haryana unit leader Gurnam Sing Charuni addressed the farmers and appealed them not to take law into hands, but to protest peacefully.
Charuni called for blocking all highways in the state to protest the lathicharge on farmers. “We slam the BJP government for using police force on farmers once again. I request all farmers to come out and block all highways in the state,” Charuni said.
FARMERS BLOCK HIGHWAYS TO PROTEST “BRUTAL” POLICE ACTION
Angry farmers have now blocked multiple roads across Haryana to protest “brutal” police action against fellow farmers in neighbouring Karnal district.
The Samyukt Kisan Morcha – the umbrella body under which many farmer groups have united to protest the farm laws – slammed the police for their “brutal” actions.
The opposition Congress has slammed the ruling BJP government in Haryana, accusing Chief Minister Khattar and his administration of orchestrating violence against the farmers.
“What happened to our farmers in Karnal is a matter of great concern… the Congress party condemns this attack in the strongest possible language. What you saw today was evidence of the BJP’s disregard for farmers and their safety…” Kumari Selja, chief of the party’s state unit, said.
Ms Selja referred to a video that has been shared widely, in which Ayush Sinha, the District Magistrate of Karnal, can be heard telling police to “break their (the farmers) head”.
Inputs various news agencies.
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