Haryana Congress delegation approaches NHRC over Karnal lathicharge

A delegation of Haryana Congress leaders, on Tuesday, approached National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to submit a memorandum against the recent incident of "brutal lathi charge" on farmers in Karnal. The party even demanded an immediate suspension of Karnal Sub Divisional Magistrate who was seen in a viral video, giving instructions to other policemen to "break the heads of protesting farmers".

New Delhi: A delegation of Haryana Congress leaders, on Tuesday, approached National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to submit a memorandum against the recent incident of "brutal lathi charge" on farmers in Karnal. The party even demanded an immediate suspension of Karnal Sub Divisional Magistrate who was seen in a viral video, giving instructions to other policemen to "break the heads of protesting farmers".

The delegation comprised Haryana Congress incharge Vivek Bansal, PCC Chief Kumari Selja, and others leaders including Kiran Chowdhary, Deepender Hooda and Captain Ajay Yadav. While speaking to ETV Bharat, Haryana Congress incharge Vivek Bansal said, "Our demands were that this Government must apologize for the barbaric treatment that meted out to the farmers, secondly the officer, whose instructions were blatantly were in violation of the constitution as he was smacking off violence, needs to be suspended."

"Thirdly, the problem of the farmers must be resolved, Government should reach out to them. This is the bounding duty of the present Government, be it Central or state. Fourthly, these farmers who have been injured and the one who died must be compensated adequately by the state government," he further added.

Congress has demanded NHRC take action against all those who were involved in this incident under the IPC sections 107, 108, 109, 147, 148, 307, 323, 325, 341, 342 and 120(B). Meanwhile, the Haryana Government is being seen getting two different opinions over this incident as hours after the Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar appeared to justify the IAS officer's comments to "smash the heads" of farmers, his deputy Dushyant Chautala asserted that he could face action.

When asked about the matter, Kumari Selja alleged, "This was a pre-meditated act and this (Dy CM statement) is all part of the plan. One section will appease and the other will use such language. They are both hand in glove. It's a repressive government in Haryana and they will use all kinds of tactics against our farmers and labourers."

She also said, "CM was present there, the entire Karnal was protocoled, and yet there could not ensure peace because they themselves have resorted to violence. This is a barbaric act of injuring our farmers." However, Haryana CM is still standing firm on his statement on the IAS Officer saying that it was needed to maintain law and order.

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