Police lathi-charge protesting farmers near Karnal; 10 injured

Haryana Bhartiya Kisan Union (Chaduni) chief Gurnam Singh Chaduni alleged police brutally

A big political row erupted after nearly 10 persons were injured on Saturday as Haryana police allegedly lathi-charged a group of farmers on their way to Karnal disrupting traffic movement on the highway.

In reaction, the farmer blocked many state/national highways including the Fatehabad-Chandigarh, Panchkula-Shimla, Gohana-Panipat, Jind-Patiala, Ambala-Chandigarh and the Hisar-Chandigarh NH, while Congress shared screenshots of pictures of farmers "bleeding" after the lathi-charge.

Farmers blocked roads at the call of Samyukt Kisan Morcha for road and toll plaza blockade till 5 pm Saturday to protest injuries to “dozens of farmers” and detention of some farmers by Karnal police.

The lathi charge took place as the farmers were heading towards Karnal to protest against a BJP meeting being attended by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, state BJP president Om Prakash Dhankar and other senior party leaders.

Former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said, "While farmers were 15 km away from the site (of BJP meet), the police action shows the intentions of the government which seems to have made up its mind to beat up the farmers. There should be an impartial investigation into this whole incident and strict action should be taken against the culprits."

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While the police said it only used "mild force", Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi hit out at the BJP government, saying each baton on farmer will prove a nail in the coffin of BJP, while the party compared the action against farmers in Haryana with that of the Jallianwala Bagh incident and calling Manohar Lal Khattar-led BJP government "General Dyer government".

"CM-Dy CM's conspiracy to attack farmers in Karnal is clear from the orders of the Duty Magistrate, who is ordering the police to break the heads of farmers and lash them with sticks. BJP-JJP is the 'General Dyer' government. Khattar Sahib, Today in Karnal sticks have been blown on the soul of every Haryanvi. The oppression of the sinful BJP government that bleeds farmers is like demons. The coming generations will remember the blood from farmers' bodies flown on the streets,'' AICC communication department chief Randeep Surjewala said.

"Farmers give robust crops in farms but the BJP government hurts them by baton charging when they demand their rights. Every baton on the farmers' back will prove a nail in the BJP government's coffin," said Priyanka Gandhi in a Facebook post.

Calling BJP anti-farmer, Rahul Gandhi said, "Once again they have spilt the blood of farmers and shamed India." Haryana Bhartiya Kisan Union (Chaduni) chief Gurnam Singh Chaduni alleged that the police brutally lathi-charged the protesting farmers, leaving many injured. Indian National Lok Dal and Swaraj India also condemned the police action.

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