Farmers' Protest: Congress leader says CM Khattar must apologise

The Congress party has sought an apology from Harayana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar for ordering the SDM to bash the protesting farmers head.

New Delhi: As the farmers' protest continues in Karnal, the Congress party sought an apology from Harayana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar alleging that he is the one who gave orders 'to bash the heads of protesting farmers'.

While speaking to ETV Bharat, Congress Chief spokesperson and General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala said, "From the past 2 nights 3 days, our 'Annadatas' are sitting under open sky but this egotistical Khattar government is not ready to accept their demands. Today a new video has been surfaced where the Deputy Commissioner of Karnal has clearly stated that the orders to bash heads of farmers were being given by the CM and Deputy CM."

He added: "They are killing the democracy. CM Manohar Lal Khattar must open dialogue with the farmers, apologise to them, immediately suspend the SDM, call an inquiry against him, provide compensation to the family of that farmer who died during these protests and crackdown this entire matter."

The Haryana government even extended the suspension of mobile internet services in Karnal district till Thursday midnight. Farmers have been picketing outside the mini-secretariat at Karnal, demanding strict legal action against the ex-SDM of Karnal who was seen In a video giving orders to other police officials to bash the heads of protesting farmers if crossed barricading.

Multiple rounds of talks between the district administration and farmer leaders have also failed to break the ongoing deadlock.
Surjewala said, "There is no sense of these talks. When CM is the culprit, then what these authorities will talk about? Therefore, BJP-JJP (Jannayak Janta Party) government is just trying to pretend. Ideally, CM and Deputy CM should talk to the farmers and after apologising to them."

Farmers have made it clear that their sit-in protest will continue at the mini-secretariat until their demands are met.