-SATISH HANDA
Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khatter while talking to media persons at Chandigarh Press Club said that former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Punjab chief minister Capt. Amrinder Singh and few communist leaders are responsible for spreading farmers agitation in Haryana state. He said, state government was cheated during Jaat agitation in the state in 2016 when in-spite of accepting their demand for 10% reservation community persons re-started agitation and it was observed that political parties in opposition may go to any extent for their self-vested interest.
Khatter said, none of the farmer in Haryana is involved in farers agitation going on since past over nine months since nearly 85% protestors sitting on ‘dharna’ in this protest in the state belong to Punjab encouraged by former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Punjasb chief minister Capt. Amrinder Singh, communist leaders and farmers belonging to Haryana state are not involved in these protests. He said during Jaat agitation in Haryana state, ruling government, presently having seven years experience, was not prepared to face such agitation and now will not permit to repeat such type of agitations spreading violence at any case.
In reply to a question as regard viral of an sudio-video by Ayush Sinha SDM Karnal after attack on police by agitating farmers near Karnal, chief minister giving him clean chit clarified that his attention was not bad but language used by him may be incorrect because the protest was going on 15 km away from Karnal. Meanwhile, Haryana Deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala, too, was of view in favour of SDM Karnal having no fault saying in this case of protestors attack on police with sharp-edged weapons when police was left with no alternative except to lathe-charge protestors in self protection and will not sprinkle flowers on them.
Information reveals, Congress leaders has taken up matter with National Human Rights Commission demanding action against police action in which few protestors sustained injuries. They are also going to see Governor Haryana in this regard. However, Chief Secretary Haryana Vijay Vardhan has already demanded detailed report about the incident as regard action taken by SDM Karnal in this regard from Nishant Yadav Deputy Commissioner Karnal. Chief Minister Haryana Manohar Lal Khatter told media persons that during first five years tenure of BJP government in Haryana state ruling government controlled Jaat agitation successfully in-spite of having no experience in running government in the state He said, the incidents to stop vehicle of Om Parkash Dhankad state BJP president, attack on Vidhan Sabha Deputy Speaker Ranbir Gangwa at Sirsa and disallowing landing of his helicopter at Karnal by agitators are some of unwanted incidents and he was kind enough not to take action against agitators and will not be tolerated in future. Khatter said, in a democratic country protest dharnas, public addressing and displaying banners are permitted but state government will not allow protestors to take law and order in hans and spread violence at any cost.
Blaming Congress playing key role to encourage farmers agitation in Haryana instead of Punjab state where they ruling Khatter said, protesting farmer groups should know that three agriculture laws have been constituted by the government in the centre and decision to withdraw the same has to be taken by them only not by Haryana state government, however Haryana state government may assist in arranging a meeting between Union Government and the farmer leaders to solve this over nine months old issue. In view of a statement made bt Punjab chief minister Capt Amrinder Singh demanding his resignation Khatter raised a question from Captain Amrinder Singh who is he to demand his resignation whereas he himself is responsible for spreading unrest in Haryana state. While pointing at Punjab chief minister, Khatter said Haryana state government buying 10 types of crops including wheat, paddy, sugarcane, cotton, peanut, maize, chana, sarson, moong, bajra and sunflower from farmers in the state at minimum support price (MSP) and remit payment in their bank accounts within 72 hours and Punjab chief minister should also clarify in this regard.
