Expressing shock at the brazen brutality of the Haryanapolice, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Saturday slammed hiscounterpart in the neighbouring state for unleashing such a vicious assault onthe peacefully protesting farmers, many of whom were injured in thelathi-charge.
Pointing out that this was not the first time that farmershad been subjected to such ruthlessness at the hands of the Haryana police,Captain Amarinder said it was evident that the BJP-led ML Khattar governmenthad once again deliberately used brute force in a desperate bid to end thefarmers’ stir against the draconian Farm Laws.
Such Khattar government sponsored attack on farmers was notonly unacceptable but outright condemnable, said the Chief Minister, demandingan apology from the Haryana CM and aid for the injured farmers. “This is no wayto treat out annadaatas,” said Captain Amarinder, warning that the BJP wouldhave to bear the consequences of such horrendous actions, and of the apathy ofits government at the Centre towards the farmers, in the forthcoming Assemblyelections in Punjab and other states.
Instead of heeding the concerns of the farmers andrepealing the Farm Laws which were clearly undemocratic and anti-farmer, the BJPhad been persistently indulging in offensive acts, even stooping to the extentof insulting them by using derogatory names, he said.
The people of India will not forgive the BJPfor its shameful treatment of the farmers, many of whom have lost their livesduring their protest at the Delhi borders, he added.
Having failed to foil their agitation and subjugatetheir will, the Haryana government hadagain resorted to physical assault of the innocent and peaceful farmers, whohad been braving extreme weather, pandemic and other problems in their fightagainst the black legislations, which the BJP-led government at the Centre wasusing to hand over agriculture to their crony capitalist friends, he added.
Even earlier, in November 2020, the Haryana police had ferociously assaultedfarmers to stop them from marching to the Delhi borders to join the agitationagainst the central laws, he pointed out.
Citing media reports and viral videos of the baton chargeon the farmers on way to protest against Khattar’s visit to Karnal for ameeting, the Chief Minister also condemned the IAS officer who was reportedlyseen giving instructions to the police force to bash up the protesting farmers.He demanded immediate dismissal of the officer and strict action against him, asper the law.