-SATISH HANDA

June 5 was day of farmer protests at about 45 places  all over in the state reported at Tohana, Hisar, Bhiwani, Rohtak, Jgajjar, Jind, Bahadurgarh,Sonepat, Karnal, Panipat, Kurukshetra, Kaithal and Ambala in which agitators shouted slogans against government in protest of three agriculture laws introduced by the government. The incidents of clashes between protesting farmers and police   outside the residence of Sanjay Bhatia MP, near the residence of Vidhan sabha Chairman at Panchkula when few protestors sustained injuries during police Lathicharge when agitated farmers block Simla highway for two hours. The protestors also attempted to ‘gherao’ the residenc of six ministers, seven MPs and 17 MLAs in the state during the day and blocked on roads at number of places and burnt effigies of Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister at Bastada Toll Plaza and also burnt copies of three laws outside government offices all over in the state.

BKU national convener Rakesh Tikait along with other Kisan Union leaders sat on protest ‘dharna’ outside Tohana police station demanding immediate release of farmers arrested by the police when agitators attacked Tohana JJP MLA Dinesh Babli in which his Secretary was injured and a case was registered against nearly 20 protestors. Demanding cancellation of FIRs Tikait said, we are prepared for arrests. He said, Babli had misbehaved with the protesting farmers on June 1. 2021 and used harsh comments causing hurt to their sentiments. However, to resolve the matter Babli later expressed regrets over the incident in a digital meeting.

Protesting farmers and police had a clash with protesting farmers at Hisar during inauguration of a hospital by the chief minister few days ago followed by another incident of attack over JJP MLA Devinder Babli when administration at Hisar had a clash with the police, arrested nearly 20 youth farmers and registered cases against them.

Sources reveal, after recent incidents at Hisar and Tohana most of the farmers protesting at borders and Toll Plaza have lost faith in senior farmer leaders including Rakesh Tikait, Yogender Yadav and Gurnam Singh Chanduni and many more raising a question mark over the incidents of violent activities in Haryana when BKU leader Chanduni had a meeting with the administration demanded three days time for a talk, but agitated farmers attacked Devinder Babli MLA, injured  one of his staff member, had ‘gherao’ of his residence when police arrested nearly 20 agitators and registered FIRs against them.

Sources reveals, a rift between farmer leaders has started after the violent incidents reported at Hisar and Tohana. Moreover, Chanduni never wanted interference of Rakesh Tikait and other protesting farmer leaders in this regard when state administration had already assured meeting after a couple of days. Meanwhile, protesting farmers has demanded cancellation of all FIRs registered against protesting youths involve in violent activities by June 6, 2021 failing which they threatened to ‘gherao’ all police stations in Haryana state between 11 AM to 1 PM on June 7 and in case no action will be taken by the government thereafter and Devinder Babli MLA fails to begs excuse from the protesting farmers they will hold a funeral procession march carrying his effigy in all villages in the state on June 10.

Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij while talking to media persons said, though protests are right of every citizen in a democratic country but violent activities and damage to public as well as government properties during a protest or an agitation can not be permitted and those involved in such antisocial activities will not be spared at any cost and will have to face consequences. Vij said, no one is allowed to stop inauguration of an public hospital by the government,  dis-allow any one to visit patients admitted in the hospital and disrupt the movement of a political leader or a bureaucrat, damaged any private or any government property and violate law and the order.

Meanwhile, supporting the issue, Manohar Lal Khatter Chief Minister Haryana said, an appeal was made to protesting farmers to withdraw agitation at this moment when country is facing severe COVID-19 epidemic outbreak. He said, the protesting farmers were advised to continue protest when situation improves since rural areas in Haryana state were adversely affected due to Corona virus spread due to farmers protest gatherings at the borders and Toll Plaza in the state claimed large number of lives. Khatter said, in-spite of repeated requests farmers were not prepared to get themselves Corona tested or vaccinated and wear face mask at the place of gatherings. He added, society moves on the basis of certain principles and government cannot allow anyone to violate law and order in the state.