Haryana CM’s kisan mahapanchayat meet cancelled after protesting farmers vandalise venue

NEW DELHI: Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar cancelled his kisan mahapanchayat programme in Karnal after farmers opposing the Centre’s three farm laws uprooted tents and damaged the stage at the venue.

On Sunday, police resorted to mild lathi-charge and used teargas and water canons to stop hundreds of farmers from reaching a helipad in Kaimla village, where Khattar was scheduled to land.

Over 1,500 cops have been deployed as security for the meeting and seven checkpoints were set up ahead of the venue. Agitating farmers, however, managed to breach six checkpoints and arrive near the helipad, forcing authorities to move the landing spot for Khattar’s helicopter to a different location.

The farmers then moved to occupy the venue of Khattar’s kisan mahapanchayat, where around 2,000 farmers, most of them BJP supporters, were waiting. The protesting farmers flung chairs, tore banners and vandalised other arrangements made for the meeting.

Various senior leaders of BJP and JJP have been facing protests during their public appearances for the last many days. In one of such incident, Khattar’s cavalcade was also obstructed by an agitated mob of farmers in Ambala a few days ago. Earlier, Home minister Anil Vij’s cavalcade had also hit a blockade when the angry farmers shouted anti-government slogans.

Various others including Deputy CM Dushyant Chautala, Agriculture Minister J P Dalal, Education Minister Kanwar Pal and various BJP MPs had been facing such protests outside their residences in their respective constituencies and their public appearances as well.

After Khattar’s cavalcade was obstructed, Ambala’s then SP Rajesh Kalia was shunted out of the district.

Farmers also disrupted BJP’s programme in Barwala, Saturday resulting in immense chaos. Farmers had earlier announced that they would not allow any BJP or JJP leader to hold their scheduled public events across the state unless the three farm legislation are repealed.