With violent activities being reported related to the ongoing farmers' agitation, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Thursday met Union Home Minister Amit Shah to apprise him about the current situation on the issue.
The Chief Minister expressed his concern over the violent acts reported at the farmer's protest site at Haryana's borders with Delhi at Singhu and Tikri. Thousands of farmers have been camping there for over six months now, demanding a repeal of the three agriculture reform laws enacted by the Centre in September last year.
A 42-year-old resident of Kasar village in Haryana’s Jhajjar district succumbed to burn injuries in the wee hours of Thursday and his relatives have alleged that he was set on fire by four men who are part of the farmers’ protest at the Tikri border.
The meeting between Shah and Khattar which lasted for about one hour assumes significance as the protesting farmer unions have announced to organise dharnas at Governor
houses across the country on June 26 to mark the completion of seven months of their agitation.
It is learnt that during the meeting Khattar apprised the Home Minister about recent incidents of farmers' agitation in Jhajjar, Tohana and Hisar.
The Chief Minister, who held a press conference in Chandigarh on Thursday morning to highlight the achievements of 600 days of BJP-JJP led Haryana Government, also presented a booklet to the Home Minister depicting these achievements.
Khattar will be on a three-day Delhi tour to meet Union Ministers and BJP national leadership. His Delhi tour and meeting with the Home Minister has also triggered speculations of a cabinet expansion or reshuffle in the state.
The Chief Minister had last month met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister and BJP national president JP Nadda.
On June 11, Haryana Deputy Chief Minister and JJP leader Dushyant Chautala had met Amit Shah. Meanwhile, Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij also reached Delhi on Thursday and met BJP national president JP Nadda.
After Thursday's meeting, the Chief Minister while talking to the mediapersons said that he has apprised the Home Minister about the increasing inappropriate incidents, especially against women in the ongoing farmers' agitation.
He said that there is no objection if the farmers' movement goes on peacefully, but the inappropriate incidents, especially against women, are very worrying. These incidents are being opposed locally as well. Haryana Government will not allow law and order to deteriorate under any circumstances, Khattar said.
The Union Home Minister has also assured action in this regard, he added.
Notably, in the wee hours of Thursday, a man identified as Mukesh, a resident of Kasra village in Bahadurgarh in Jhajjar district died after allegedly being set on fire by four men who are part of the farmers’ protest at the Tikri border. An FIR has been registered in the case.
Earlier, an FIR was registered against six persons in connection with rape of a 25-year-old activist associated with the farmers' agitation at the Tikri border.The victim from West Bengal had died of Covid-19 at a hospital in Bahadurgarh on April 30.
Recently, a woman who came to create awareness about Covid-19 and vaccination benefits among the protesting farmers at Tikri had also alleged eve-teasing and sexual harassment.
The ongoing farmers' agitation remains a major concern for the State Government as the farmers have been protesting against the BJP and JJP leaders across the state.
Earlier in the day, the Chief Minister had in Chandigarh appealed to the agitating farmers to end the protest saying that there is no ill-effect of agricultural laws as is being propagated.
Farmers should understand that there is no harm in three farm laws. Let the farm laws be implemented.
If they are found to be not beneficial, the government will be ready to work on them, he had said.