Haryana CM urges farmers to defer agitation, invites them to hold talks
Even as the Bharatiya Kisan Union’s Haryana unit will hold a statewide protest against the Centre’s farm bills on Sunday during which they will block roads for three hours, State Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has urged them to defer the agitation and invited them to talks.
In an appeal issued here, Khattar said while one hand everyone in a democracy has the right to express their views, on the other maintaining peace in the State is also the utmost duty of any Government. Khattar said the three Farm Ordinances are in the interest of farmers and it is unfortunate to see that the Opposition parties are blatantly politicising the issue so as to achieve their vested interests by misleading the farmers. Khattar urged the farmers to remember the appeal made by Deenbandhu Chaudhary Chhotu Ram in which he had said that they should recognize their enemies.
Haryana BKU chief Gurnam Singh said the Centre did not withdraw the three agriculture-related ordinances and presented them as bills during the ongoing session of Parliament, which have been passed in the Lok Sabha. “We had warned the government not to go ahead with these ‘’anti-farmer’’ legislation. We will be holding a protest across the state during which we will block roads for three hours. However, the GT road (national highway) will not be blocked,” he said on Saturday, adding that they have support from other farmer outfits.
He also said farmers from Haryana and Punjab will start a movement against the “anti-farmer” measures which will later intensify into pan-India protests. On September 10, the BKU along with some other farmer outfits had held a protest in Kurukshetra’s Pipli against the farm ordinances.
Haryana Chief Minister Khattar, said that at this time those who are spreading confusion about Ordinances promulgated by the Central Government are the ones who are the real enemies of farmers and are trying just to serve their own political interests rather than having any concern about farmers.
He requested the farmers associations that while holding a Statewide road blockade they should ensure that least inconvenience is caused to citizens and passengers. He said special care should be taken to ensure no obstruction in the way is caused for any patients going to hospital, pregnant women and vehicles supplying essential commodities.
Cautioning farmers about the fact that at times under the guise of any protest, many anti-social elements try to spread violence just to fulfill their vested interests, the Chief Minister said that it is very important to remain vigilant against such anti-social elements.
Reacting to the protest call, Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij said all arrangements have been made to ensure that vehicular movement on highways is not disrupted during the agitation. The minister added that the opposition was “misleading” the farmers and that they should realise that the farm reforms were for their benefit.
“Amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, often there are ambulances going from one place to the other carrying patients. There are others who are out on roads due to some emergency or for discharging their official duty. So no one should block the roads,” Vij appealed.
Meanwhile, the State Government has communicated to deputy commissioners, police IGs and SPs to reach out to the organisers to ensure that the protests pass off peacefully.