After facing criticism from all quarters over his “tit for tat” remarks during a recent address to the workers of State BJP Kisan Morcha, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Friday said he is withdrawing his statement in the interest of State’s peace.
“The remark had been made in the context of self-defence and not out of ill-intention towards anyone,” the Chief Minister said while talking to the mediapersons after paying obeisance at Mata Mansa Devi temple in Panchkula on the second day of the Navratri festival. “I want to tell my farmer brothers who are hurt that I am taking back my statement. I do not want any breach of peace or law and order problem in the State. Everyone has a right to protest in a peaceful manner but the only thing is that no one should cross the limit. No one should be harmed, vehicles should not be damaged,” he said.
Khattar had on Sunday asked the party’s Kisan Morcha workers to raise groups of farmer volunteers in the state’s northern and north-western districts.
In a portion of his address that went viral on social media, the Chief Minister had said, “Form groups of 500-700-1,000 farmers and make them volunteers. And then at every place, ‘sathe sathyam samacharet’. What does it mean — it means tit for tat
(jaisa ko taisa).” The CM also asked the gathering to support and promote “some new farmers bodies coming up in the State”. Khattar told the gathering that after taking up “dande” (bamboo sticks) they should not care for “zamanat” (bail) as serving time in jail for a few months “will make them big leaders”.
While withdrawing his remark on Friday, the Chief Minister said that it was publicised that he suggested “picking up sticks”. The remark had been made in the context of self-defence, he clarified.
After the video of the event surfaced, the farmers’ bodies had alleged that the Chief Minister was telling party supporters to “pickup sticks” against farmers protesting the central agriculture laws. The Congress and Indian National Lok Dal had also criticized Khattar accusing him of publicly advocating strong-arm tactics.
The farmers’ unions had also held protests in various parts of the state against the Chief Minister over his remarks.
Meanwhile, Khattar also said that he won’t be attending a programme of the Aggarwal community in Kaithal as farmers have announced to oppose his visit.
The protesting farmers have said they have no objection if a BJP leader from the community attends the event. Speaker Gian Chand Gupta will attend the event on my behalf, he added.
Notably, the farmers have been camping at Singhu and Tikri borders (along Haryana) for more than ten months demanding a repeal of the three farm laws enacted by the Central Government in September last year.
The protesting farmers have been opposing public events of ruling BJP-JJP leaders across the State.