Tag: haryana farmers

‘We’ll Make Sure BJP is Defeated in Haryana’: BKU Protests Against BJP, JJP Candidates

BJP faces massive anti-incumbency in Haryana’s 10 seats due to the farmers’ crisis.

The Wire visited Nimriwali village in Haryana’s Bhiwani-Mahendragarh Lok Sabha constituency. In 2019, the BJP’s Dharambir Singh had comfortably won this seat by more than four lakh votes. This time, with a change in candidate in the form of Rao Daan Singh, the Congress’s hopes are high.

BJP faces massive anti-incumbency in Haryana’s 10 seats due to the farmers’ crisis. The primary reason for this resentment among the farmer community is the non-fulfilment of their demands.

The Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), headed by Rakesh Tikait, is actively campaigning against the BJP in this election.

Haryana: Farmers’ Unions Revive Demand for Law on MSP at Pipli Mahapanchayat

The protesting farmers blocked Delhi-Chandigarh highway in Kurukshetra on Monday, demanding the Haryana government to provide MSP for sunflower crop.

Chandigarh: Farmers’ unions from Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh revived their demand for a law on guaranteed minimum support price (MSP) for their crops, as they gathered in huge numbers at MSP Dilao, Kisan Bachao (Provide MSP to save farmers) Mahapanchayat at Pipli grain market in Haryana’s Kurukshetra district here on Monday, June 12.  

Mahapanchayat was called by Bharatiya Kisan Union (Charuni) faction in the wake of their ongoing agitation to press state authorities for procurement of sunflower seeds at MSP. For the second in a week, Haryana farmers on Monday blocked a national highway to Delhi. The farmers’ union took this decision at a ‘Mahapanchayat’ held in Kurukshetra district’s Pipli village on Monday. Traffic from the blocked highway has been diverted to avoid congestion, NDTV reported.

As of Monday night, farmers continue to block the highway after talks between protesters and local administration failed to reach any conclusion.

Last week too, the Charuni group held a massive protest, leading to the arrest of its chief Gurnam Singh Charuni, and eight others following a massive lathi-charge by Haryana police on protesting farmers.  

After Mahapanchayat, Charuni faction members along with a large assembly of farmers marched to the main Delhi-Chandigarh highway (National Highway 44), not far from their protest site in Pipli Grain market, and blocked it for several hours in order to press the Haryana government for their demand.  

While the highway protest has not been lifted yet, the event, attended by popular faces of the 2020 farm protest movement including Rakesh Tikait, Balbir Singh Rajewal, Surjeet Singh Phul and other members of Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) recharged farmers to seek permanent law on MSP.

 Phul told the media that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government at the Centre had given in writing that it would form a committee to enact a law on MSP. But it has never been implemented.

 “Now the time has come for Delhi-like farmer protest for our pending demand so that farmers are not forced time and again to come on the street to seek their rights,” said Phul. 

Tikait, who also joined the protesters at the highway protest, also told the gathering during Mahapanchayat that the Centre had ditched farmers by not enacting a law on MSP.  

“Unless a law is not enacted in the country, the struggle of the farmers to get the adequate value of their crops will not end,” he said.  

Later on Haryana farmers’ protest, Tikait also said that farmers would not lift the highway unless the state government starts sunflower procurement and also release the members of BKU (Chaduni) arrested last week on June 6.  

“This is the first time in history that the police cane-charged farmers for demanding the MSP announced by the government,” said Tikait. 

What is the Haryana issue?

 In Haryana, Kurukshetra, Ambala, and part of Panchkula mainly grow sunflowers. 

The crop area is on the rise ever since the BJP government at the state assured farmers of full crop procurement as part of its crop diversification plan in 2018. 

Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar in 2018 held the Surajmukhi Dhan Kisan Dhanyawad Rally in which he claimed that his government had decided to procure the entire crop of sunflower seeds as a permanent policy as part of the state’s crop diversification plan.

 As a result, the sunflower area which in 2018-19 was sown on 9,440 hectares increased to 14,160 hectares in the 2022-23 crop year, as per government data. 

Over the years, farmers were realising MSP-based procurement. However this year state agencies did not come for procurement, leaving farmers to get exploited by traders.

Farmers have been claiming in this Mahapanchayat that this year they were not releasing more than Rs 4000-Rs 4200 per quintal for their sunflower crop against Rs 6,400 per quintal MSP announced by Centre in 2022-23  

Sensing trouble after last week’s protest, the Khattar government announced relief to the sunflower farmers by giving Rs 1,000 per quintal under Bhavantar Bharpayee Yojana, a government scheme to compensate for the low price of their produce in the market. 

However, farmers claimed that despite additional state government compensation, an overall realisation of the price was still below MSP, which made them hold a mahapanchayat on Monday to seek full MSP for their crop. 

Opposition parties in Haryana too have lashed out at the BJP, alleging that the BJP-led government has ignored farmers in the state, which otherwise are an important vote bank.

 Leader of the Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) leader and former CM Om Prakash Chautala, and INLD’s Abhay Singh Chautala all were united in condemning last week’s police action on the Charuni group as well as arrest of their leaders

 The leaders of Jannayak Janta Party (JJP), which is currently in alliance with BJP in Haryana, too condemned the police action.  

On June 8, Jannayak Janta Party MLA Ram Karan Kala from Shahbad, a constituency in Kurukshetra district, stepped down as Haryana Sugarfed chairman after the BJP-JJP alliance government did not consider his demands to release the detained farmers, procure sunflower seeds at the MSP and compensate protesters injured in police lathi-charge.  

This article, first published at 5:41 pm on June 12, was updated and republished at 9:10 pm on the same day with additional details. It was further updated at 10:50 pm on the same day. 

Police Brutality, FIRs and a Hostile Khattar Govt: What Haryana Farmers Overcame

From supplying food to border protesters to physically lifting barricades on a crucial day, farmers in Haryana ‘kept the protest alive with blood.’

Chandigarh: The protest against the farm laws mainly centred around Punjab. Yet two developments played a vital role behind taking them to Delhi’s doors and onto international spheres.

First, representatives of around 30 Punjab farmers’ unions that later became part of Sanyuta Kisan Morcha that conducted the protests at the national stage decided in a meeting on October 27, 2020, to take their stir beyond Punjab’s borders.

Second, on November 20, 2020, the SKM itself was formed, when the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC), Rashtriya Kisan Mahasangh and various factions of Bharatiya Kisan Union came together. A meeting in Chandigarh in connection with the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march on November 26 saw farmers resolve to march together.

“Haryana farmers were nowhere in picture till then,” recalls senior journalist from Chandigarh, Hamir Singh.

As planned, Punjab farmers’ unions began to march towards Delhi from November 25, 2020, through many routes, mainly the Punjab-Delhi National Highway that passes through Haryana, Ratia-Fatehabad and Talwandi-Sirsa, he said.

But the BJP government in Haryana stopped tens of thousands of farmers from Punjab from marching towards Delhi. At one point, farmers were considering a retreat due to fear of clashes with the Haryana police.

“Here, Haryana farmers played a crucial role. It was Haryana farmers, who with the help of the BKU Chadauni group broke the Haryana police barricade, paving the way for Punjab farmers to march towards Delhi and rest is history,” said Hamir Singh.

Representative image. Police stand guard near a barricade as farmers protest at Singhu border during their ‘Delhi Chalo’ march against the Centre’s farm reform laws, in New Delhi, November 29, 2020. Photo: PTI/Atul Yadav

Hamir said the protest would not have reached a scale as it did later if Haryana police had its way in stopping and demoralising the farmers at the Punjab-Haryana borders.

He said Haryana farmers not only broke the police barricade but also the “mental barricades” of farmers’ union leaders. They became fearless and stopped worrying about water cannon, teargas or lathi charge by Haryana police.

Later the protest settled outside Delhi gates due to the huge barricading by Delhi police at the border points of Singhu, Tikri and later, Ghazipur. These became the meccas of the protest and it was from there that farmers fought the year-long battle that is being seen as the largest public movement in modern history, said Hamir Singh.

On November 19, Prime Minister Narendra Modi finally announced the repeal of the laws. 

Haryana’s role in ‘feeding’ the protest

In the beginning, there were no plans on how protesters would eat once they reached Delhi.

Farmers from Punjab had brought atta, dal and ghee but still not in large quantities. Hamir said while there is no doubt that Punjab NRIs, gurdwaras and rural supporters did not allow any shortage of food to affect the protest, people from Haryana were integral.

“People from Haryana villages did not let the supply of milk, vegetables and other essential food stop at the Singhu and Tikri borders. Logistically too, it was easier for Haryana to supply food since the protest, for all practical purposes, was within Haryana boundaries,” said Hamir.

Numerically speaking, too, Haryana added significantly to the population of protesters. Several Haryana farmers passed away during the course of the protests too.

Maximum hostility from state government  

The Congress government in Punjab was not directly hostile towards farmers’ unions and even the main opposition party Shiromani Akali Dal broke its alliance with ruling BJP at the Union government. But these conditions turned in Haryana.

BKU Chaduni president Gurnam Singh told The Wire that maximum cases were filed against Haryana farmers. As many as 48,000 faced penal charges, many of which were of very serious nature, like sedition and attempt to murder.

Haryana farmers also faced brutal lathicharge from the police, its excess at its height at the bloody incident of Karnal.

Farmers injured in the lathicharge resorted to by Haryana Police in Karnal on August 28. Photo: Twitter/@_YogendraYadav.

“To say the least, Haryana farmers kept the protest alive with their blood. Nearly 200 farmers sacrificed their lives. Even though there was no compensation from the hostile state government unlike Punjab, this did not demoralise them,” said Gurnam Singh.

He said that even as laws are officially repealed, Haryana farmers will keep fighting till the time the cases against them are not withdrawn.

They are not given proper compensation. Besides, the question of legalising MSP is not settled. “The history of Haryana farmers is glorious. The farmers’ protest has added another chapter in it,” he said.

The BJP government in Haryana additionally often accused the protest of being politically motivated.

Also read: ‘Driver Threatened of Second Lakhimpur’: Haryana Farmer Hit by ‘Car in BJP MP’s Convoy’

Their main allegation was that ever since the BJP formed the government in the state, the farmers’ lobby that was very powerful during Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s time could not tolerate a non-Jat chief minister in Manohar Lal Khattar. Hence, the real ‘ploy’ as BJP leaders claimed privately and also in open discussions, was to destabilise the Haryana government led by a non-Jat chief minister through this farm protest.

“That is where Khattar made a mistake,” a BJP Jat leader said, requesting anonymity.

“He (Khattar) could not understand that the farmers’ protests became a symbol of farmers’ dignity. He could not see how the protest enlarged to a scale where it was not confined to the farming community alone,” he said.

Neutralising ‘propaganda’

Another major contribution of Haryana farmers is that they provided diversity of faces and religion.

While there was continuous attempt to tag Sikh farmers as “Khalistanis”, that the narrative was false was evident as Haryana Jats, who are followers of Hinduism, rallied behind the movement.

Farmers at the Punjab-Haryana Khanauri border. Photo: Special arrangement

Gurnam Singh said that there was a continuous attempt to create a divide between Punjab and Haryana farmers. There was even an attempt to communalise the movement by making it a ‘Sikh versus Hindu’ fight. “All these things failed because the focus of the farmers was clear,” he added.

He added that the state leaders could not understand that this protest was not political, but an attempt to prevent the corporatisation of agriculture that the BJP was trying to impose with the farm laws.

“It was a fight to save the land of the farmers. It was a fight to ensure that they get  proper remuneration for their produce, he added

Spirit

Even though the BJP-led Haryana government was hostile towards them, farmers from the state kept protesting against BJP leaders and disturbed a host of public programmes of BJP leaders, including those of Khattar.

It was during one of these resistances that farmers were lathicharged at Karnal before the arrival of Khattar in August this year, leaving at least 10 injured. Last year, in October, protesting farmers were lathicharged in Sirsa.

Amidst this, came a controversial comment from Khattar in which he exhorted farmers’ bodies sympathetic to BJP to raise volunteer groups in villages for a “tit for tat” treatment of agitating farmers. He withdrew his remarks following backlash.

Also read: Form Groups, Show Protestors ‘Jaise Ko Taisa’, Haryana CM Tells BJP Kisan Morcha

Farmers’ resistance against BJP’s alliance partner, Jannayak Janata Party, a breakaway faction of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), also proved crucial.

JJP is a rural Jat-centric party and farmers are considered to be their core vote bank.

Haryana farmers welcome farmers of Punjab moving towards Delhi to take part in their Jan 26 tractor rally, at Shambu Punjab-Haryana border near Patiala, Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021. Photo: PTI

However, the JJP led by Ajay Chautala and his son and deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala chose to stick with the BJP despite farmers seeking their support. Farmers demanded Dushyant’s resignation but Ajay Chautala defended him, saying his resignation will not be a solution.

This created tension between farmers and JJP several times during the last one year.

Gurnam Singh Chaduni said that JJP has ditched the farmers in Haryana. “Farmers will never forget it. The BJP-JJP might feel that they have redeemed themselves today but it is not true. They cannot claim credit for what happened in any way,” he added.

It was due to this protest that BJP lost politically, too, in the state. It could not win municipal elections and lost all by-polls in the past one year.

Khattar is now keen to cut a conciliatory picture along with JJP. Their first litmus test will be Panchayat elections that are due for the last 10 months. How it now brings farmers to its fold remains to be seen.

India Struggles to Put Out Crop Waste Fires That Fuel Air Pollution

Stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana, part of the farm belt that borders New Delhi, accounts for 30% to 40% of air pollution in October and November, according to SAFAR.

Gagsina (Haryana): India‘s efforts to reduce crop–waste burning, a major source of air pollution during the winter, by spending billions of rupees over the past four years have done little to avert a sharp deterioration in air quality.

Stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana states, part of the farm belt that borders the capital, New Delhi, accounts for 30% to 40% of air pollution in October and November, according to air quality monitoring agency SAFAR.

In 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration set out to tackle the problem by establishing a fund to help farmers get rid of rice paddy straw, left out in the field by mechanised harvesters, by using machines.

It has taken Rs 2,249 crore ($302 million) and four years but the plan aimed at stopping farmers torching their crop waste has failed to have any measurable impact on air quality, with New Delhi’s again in the “very poor” category this month, as in previous years, SAFAR data showed.

In the Karnal district of Haryana, 117 km (73 miles) north of New Delhi, dozens of farmers from 12 villages told Reuters that the authorities’ failure to iron out glitches in the plan and the prohibitive prices of the equipment had made it difficult for them to either buy or hire it.

“The subsidy plan looks good on paper but the officials have failed to address our practical problems,” said Kishan Lal, a grain grower.

“Despite the subsidy, the machines are beyond our reach.”

A government spokesman did not respond to a request for comment. Two government officials, who both declined to be identified, acknowledged that the plan has not put an end to stubble burning and said it would take time.

Under the plan, individual farmers can get a 50% subsidy and farm cooperatives an 80% subsidy to buy the machines for cutting, collecting and hauling away compressed paddy straw.

Other than the subsidy offered by the federal government, since 2018 Punjab state has spent Rs 1,045 crore on crop waste management.

Also read: The Govt Has Spent Crores but Failed to Find a Viable Alternative to Stubble Burning in Punjab

Farmers said the three pieces of machinery needed cost Rs 2.5 lakh to 3.5 lakh, and they also need to buy at least three tractors and two trolleys. A tractor and trolley – not covered under the subsidy programme – cost about Rs 5.5 lakh and Rs 3 lakh, respectively.

Also, farmers need to first pay upfront and then claim the subsidy, which takes up to 10 months, said farmer Jagdish Singh.

To be eligible for the subsidy, farmers need to buy the machines only from select government-approved shops, which often sell the equipment at a premium, farmers said.

Last month, growers from three villages – Raipur Jattan, Shahjahanpur and Gagsina – pooled their money to buy one set of the machines but soon found it was insufficient to handle a combined 9,000 acres of farmland spread across the villages.

“The machines can barely cover 200 to 300 acres in 20 days,” said farmer Rakesh Singh. “Forget about three villages, this machine is not sufficient even for one. We burn the residue as we race against time to plant wheat.”

After harvesting rice, farmers have a short window of about 20 days to plant wheat, and late sowing means lower yields.

A sharp rise in rice production and yields in India, the world’s biggest exporter of the grain, has exacerbated the problem of crop waste, with Punjab and Haryana generating more than 27 million tonnes of rice straw a year.

“The plan has failed to address the problem because most farmers can’t buy such expensive machines,” said Sunil Dahiya, an analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air.

The two government officials argued that the transition to mechanised crop–waste management would be a slow process. Encouraging power, paper and sugar producers to use the rice straw as fuel could also be a viable solution, they said.

“Instead of turning Punjab and Haryana into a junkyard of these machines, the government should pay farmers 200 rupees for every 100 kg of rice straw which can be used as a feedstock for many industries,” said agriculture economist Devinder Sharma.

(Reuters)

Haryana Protests: Farmer Hurt in Police Lathicharge, MP Claims Agitators Damaged His Car

Farmers’ protests against Jangra had been triggered by the MP referring to them as ‘jobless alcoholics and bad elements.’

New Delhi: A farmer suffered grave injuries after police lathicharged at a protest that was being held against the visit of a Bharatiya Janata Party MP to Hisar district of Haryana, on Friday, November 5.

Ram Chander Jangra had gone to Narnaund town for a foundation stone-laying event. He has claimed that his vehicle has been damaged by protesters.

While farmers across Haryana have been protesting against the Centre’s three farm laws by making their voices heard at programmes of leaders of Haryana’s ruling BJP and Jannayak Janta Party, the agitation against Jangra had been triggered by the MP referring to them as “jobless alcoholics and bad elements,” Indian Express has reported.

The news agency PTI has quoted unnamed police officials as having said that a protesters carrying black flags had blocked Jangra’s convoy and that the road was “cleared,” allowing the Rajya Sabha MP to proceed.

“After concluding my programme, I was on my way to attend another function when some miscreants threw lathis on my car, leaving it damaged. No one was hurt,” Jangra told reporters, according to PTI.

Contrary to Jangra’s claim, Express has reported that one Kuldeep Rana, a farmer, has had to be hospitalised after having been seriously injured in police lathicharge.

Jangra was also quoted by PTI as having said that police officials informed him that two people have been arrested in connection with the incident. This was corroborated by local farmer leader Ravi Azad, who told Express that police have detained two agitating farmers, Sudhir Singhwa and Kailash Umra.

Azad said farmers would agitate for their release at Narnaund police station.

The MP has also claimed that this was “a clear murder attempt” and that he had to cancel subsequent programmes in Narwana and Uchana as his car had been allegedly damaged.

Elsewhere in Haryana too, farmers protested against BJP leaders. In Kiloi village of Rohtak district, NDTV reported that BJP members and former minister Manish Grover were surrounded by farmers while they were at an event to watch the live telecast of a speech by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Kedarnath.

Grover eventually apologised with folded hands to farmers. Protesters then let BJP members leave the venue.

In October, a farmer sustained injuries while others had a narrow escape after a car they claimed was part of BJP MP Nayab Saini’s cavalcade drove into a group of farmers protesting against the farm laws at Naraingarh near Ambala.

In August, Haryana police had brutally lathicharged a group of farmers protesting near a highway while heading towards Karnal in Haryana to protest against a BJP meeting.

Protesting Farmers Refuse to Meet Haryana Panel, Say it Is Police Blocking Roads

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha alleged that the Haryana government is “misinterpreting the Supreme Court order” to “drag farmers into meetings”.

New Delhi: Protesting farmers on Sunday decided they would not meet the committee set up by the Haryana government to clear the blockade on National Highway-44 on the Kundli-Singhu border. The Samyukt Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of farmers’ organisations that has been leading the ongoing protests against the farm laws, said that it was the police – and not the protesting farmers – who had blocked and barricaded roads.

The SKM, according to the Indian Express, alleged that the Haryana government is “misinterpreting the Supreme Court order” to “drag farmers into meetings”.

Last week, the Manohal Lal Khattar government had formed a committee comprising Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Rajeev Arora as chairperson and the DGP and Additional DGP (Law and Order) as members to discuss how that stretch of road could be reopened. A day before that, Sonipat Deputy Commissioner Lalit Siwach had met with protesting farmers and said that the Supreme Court had asked the district administration to provide free movement for common people.

Responding to the farmers’ allegation that it was not them who had blocked the road, Arora said, “These things will be cleared only when the talks are held. We just know that we came here for a meeting and those who were invited to it, did not come to attend it.”

While farmers did not attend the meeting, Arora told the Indian Express that the panel spoke to local businessmen and heard their issues.

The SKM, meanwhile, insists that the Haryana government is misquoting the Supreme Court. In a statement, the Morcha said that the court had “impressed upon the Solicitor General that the solution lies in the hands of Union of India and the concerned state governments and they must coordinate to ensure that if the protests are on, at least the inter-state roads and national highways are not blocked in any manner”.

“The SKM leaders have reasoned that the SC orders were being misinterpreted. The Government is adamant on not fulfilling the farmers’ rightful demands, and has not initiated any talks with farmer representatives after January 22 this year. The government does know where the solution lies and has been vengefully obstinate about putting protesting farmers through hardships, even though more than 600 protestors have been martyred so far. It is shameful that an elected government in the world’s largest democracy is putting its citizens through such a struggle for saving their own livelihoods and future,” the statement read, according to the Indian Express.

“It is not the farmers who have blocked the roads. In fact, protesting farmers have created clear paths on both sides of the road at Singhu border as well as Tikri border for traffic to move, and have been forced to occupy only one side of the road at Ghazipur border. Same is the situation at Shahjahanpur border and other morchas,” it continued.

Karnal Sent a Clear Signal to BJP – the Farmers’ Issue Can’t Be Resolved Using Force 

The Haryana government may choose to double down before the panchayat elections, but so can the farmers.

Chandigarh: Ever since farmers began their protests against the Union government’s controversial farm laws, the Haryana government – under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) – has been hostile towards them.

The use of water cannons and tear gas by the Haryana police in order to stop a group of farmers from Punjab making their way towards Delhi in November last year is still fresh in the public’s memory.

As negotiations with the BJP-ruled Union failed and the call for a public boycott of BJP and JJP leaders in Haryana gathered steam, the state government’s reaction only worsened. Nearly 140 FIRs were registered against farmers in the last one year, many using serious charges under the Indian Penal Code including sedition.

But the latest Karnal episode – which brought the ruling dispensation to its knees – is a clear signal that farmers can’t be taken down with force and lathis. After all, this is the region that produced stalwarts like Chaudhary Charan Singh and Chaudhary Devi Lal, who dominated regional as well as national politics solely with the support of the farming community.

“When in 1978, then Prime Minister Morarji Desai expelled Charan Singh from the Janata Party government, Devi Lal, then the Haryana chief minister, stormed the national capital with thousands of farmers in support of Charan Singh. A month later Charan Singh was back in the Janata Party government,” recalled Professor Sampat Singh, late Devi Lal’s close aide, while speaking with The Wire.

“The farmers’ movement has a huge legacy in this region.The current dispensation of the BJP-JJP government is mistaken if they think that they can silence the farmers by force. The more they use force against them, the more they emerge stronger,” he said.

Also read: Republic Day Violence: A Tale of Two Conspiracies

He said several Haryana politicians from across party lines claim that they are carrying forward Devi Lal’s legacy.

“Had he been alive today, he would have never tolerated this kind of treatment of farmers in the state. He wouldn’t have thought twice about giving up his chief ministership or sacrificing his government for the cause of the farmers. That is the legacy he commands, which is very difficult to follow even for those who belong to his family,” said Singh.

Government on the back foot

When the Haryana police lathi charged farmers holding protest before chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar visited his constituency, Karnal, on August 28, the BJP-JJP government’s message was loud and clear: they won’t tolerate any more ‘obstructions’ from farmers.

Khattar’s unapologetic stand a day after police action in Karnal left 10 farmers injured (including one who reportedly died of a heart attack a day later) made it amply clear that the government is not showing any solidarity or even patience with the protestors.

It was therefore not a surprise when Khattar publicly defended Karnal’s sub-divisional magistrate Ayush Sinha, who was caught on camera instructing the police to “break the heads” of farmers on the day of Khattar’s visit to Karnal.

For months now, leaders of the ruling BJP and JJP were virtually unable to appear in public or hold any official or party-level functions due to protests by farmers. On several occasions, the leaders had to cancel their trips, making them helpless despite being in the government.

Khattar’s Karnal visit on the day farmers were beaten was important, as the party had scheduled a meeting of all its main party workers to make preparations for the upcoming panchayat elections in the state. A report in the Indian Express on September 1 suggested that the government’s change of strategy comes ahead of the coming panchayat polls, with the two ruling parties worried about not being able to address public meetings or campaign.

As the ruling alliance has already faced a string of electoral defeats in the shape of municipal elections and the Baroda by-poll, the alliance can’t afford a poor performance in the panchayat elections. Such a loss would only cement the perception that the alliance is losing grassroots popularity.

The panchayat elections have been due since February this year but weren’t scheduled, perhaps given the state government’s apprehensions about the outcome if they were held during the farmers’ protests. It is well known that the BJP is facing anger because of how it has handled the farmers’ issue.

Coming back to the Karnal episode, at a time when the Khattar government had firmed up its stand against farmers, the chief minister’s own city, Karnal, turned into another farmers’ ‘chawani’ (cantonment) by the first week of September.

Also read: Punjab CM Asks Farmers to Avoid Protests in the State, But Unions Aren’t Convinced

The videos and pictures of farmers facing police lathi charge and soaking in blood went viral, and subsequently flared up sentiments of the farming community in the region, prompting them to congregate in Karnal in a big number. Sinha’s remarks did the rest.

Like the Singhu and Tikri borders, where farmers are camping since November last year, farmers set up tents in Karnal, announcing that wouldn’t leave if their demands to suspend Karnal SDM Sinha, take action against cops involved in lathi charge and compensation for the family of the farmer who died of a heart attack were not met.

The government finally caved in on September 11, when it decided to send Sinha on forced leave and order a judicial probe into the incident, ensuring adequate action against those found indicted in the report.

While the BJP-JJP government is not facing an immediate threat, and JJP leaders have ruled out any move to back out of the government despite pressure from farmers’ union leaders, the immediate challenge for the government is to hold the panchayat election.

There are chances that farmers will mobilise voters against the government on the issue of the farm bills and create hurdles for the BJP and JJP during the campaign and rallies.

Whether the ruling parties are able to out-manoeuvre farmers will be interesting to watch.

Farm protest is not ordinary event, has nationwide impact: Birender

While Khattar has said repeatedly that the farmers’ protest is politically motivated and not all protesters are farmers, former Union minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet, Chaudhary Birender Singh, who is among the tallest farm leaders in Haryana, told The Wire that the ongoing protest is not an ordinary event. It has a nationwide impact, he added.

“The reason why the agitation is alive is not because of some leaders or political party guiding them. It is basically the apprehension of the farmers that they will become landless if these three farm laws are implemented. This is what is fuelling the agitation and no word can put their apprehension to rest,” said Birender.

Watch | Ground Report: Farmers End Karnal Protest After Govt Accepts Major Demands

He added that if somebody is under the impression that this agitation will end soon, they are mistaken. “Ganga ka paani kabhi sukhaya hai kya, jo yeh agitation khatam ho jayega bhai (Has the water of the Ganga ever gone dry? Then how will this agitation end)?” said Birender

“My assessment is that if this agitation is prolonged, it will not be in the best interest of the farming community, the government or the nation,” he added.

On how this matter can be resolved, he replied that he can only give his opinion, since he is no longer part of the BJP government.  “I believe that dialogue is the only way to resolve the matter. Both sides must resume talks and bury their differences.”

He brought up the assembly elections in five states that are scheduled for next year. “Retaining Uttar Pradesh is very vital for the BJP government. I presume that in light of these polls, there may be some movement towards finding a solution to the current logjam between farmers and the government,” he added

“Some amicable solution must come before it is too late. The farmers are already planning for a long haul till 2024. If that happens, it is not in anyone’s best interest of anyone.”

Vivek Gupta is a Chandigarh-based reporter who has worked for several news outlets including The Hindustan Times, The Indian Express and The Tribune.

Farmers End Karnal Protest After Government Accepts Major Demands

A probe will be conducted by a retired judge into the lathi-charge on August 28 and will also ascertain the role of IAS officer Ayush Sinha, who asked the police to ‘break the heads’ of farmers.

Karnal, Haryana: Farmers protesting at Karnal in Haryana have called off the sit-in protest at the mini-secretariat after the Haryana government accepted their major demands.

The farmers, in thousands, were sitting at the mini-secretariat demanding action against IAS officer Ayush Sinha, who had ordered a lathi-charge on a group of protesters. He was the sub-divisional magistrate when the incident occurred.

A video went viral on social media after the lathi charge, where Sinha can be seen asking cops to “smash the heads” of protesters breaking down the barricades.

These protesters, on August 28, were protesting an event that was being attended by Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar. He represents Karnal in the Haryana assembly.

Volunteers in Karnal distributing langar. Photo: Ismat Ara/The Wire

The demands that have been accepted include that then sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Ayush Sinha, who was caught on camera ordering police personnel to “smash” the heads of farmers if need be, to go on a month’s leave.

An investigation will be launched into his role in the police lathi-charge on August 28 in Karnal’s Bastara toll plaza that left several farmers injured. Farmer leaders have said that 47-year-old farmer Sushil Kajal died due to injuries sustained in the lathi charge.

The administration, however, had said that the farmer had died of a heart attack, while the family alleged that he had no history of heart complications and blamed the Haryana police.

The Haryana government has also agreed to provide two members of Sushil Kajal’s family with deputy commissioner-level jobs within a week.

Sushil Kajal’s wife told The Wire that she was happy that an investigation had been ordered into SDM Sinha’s actions, who she says should be tried for her husband’s “murder”.

Sushil Kajal’s wife and son. Photo: Ismat Ara/The Wire

“But more than all that, I was happy that my husband, who had dedicated each day of his life to the farmers’ protest since the day it started – was respected enough that all of Karnal stood with me and demanded justice for us after his untimely death,” she told The Wire. 

Sahil Kajal, Sushil’s 24-year-old son, told The Wire that he will take up the job as soon as it is offered to him.

Thousands of farmers had been protesting outside the mini-secretariat in Karnal since Tuesday, September 7. The number of tents kept increasing every day and the crowd was progressively swelling.

Several school and college students from around Karnal were also frequenting the protest. Women from nearby areas would also join.

Women at Karnal protest. Photo: Ismat Ara/The Wire

“Since the first day itself, we had been serving 5,000-7,000 people a day in order to show support to our farmer brother who got martyred after police brutality, Sushil,” one farmer serving the langar had told The Wire on Friday.

Farmers – mainly from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh – have been protesting for the past ten months over the three farm laws enacted by the Union government in September 2020. They worry that these legislations will lead to the end of the minimum support price (MSP) regime and mandis.

Sukrampal Beniwal, a BKU member who participated in the protest at Karnal, said that the protest, though short, will have a long-term political impact in Haryana.

“All farmers are already angry with BJP. Slowly, all others in Haryana too will understand this, and BJP will have a hard time coming to power here again,” he said while speaking to The Wire.

Assembly elections in the state are scheduled much later, in 2024.

The state government led by the BJP-JJP coalition has adopted several measures to deter the protesters, including imposing Section 144 CrPC, suspension of internet services and deploying Rapid Action Force, and putting blockades across the roads.

Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait, on September 7, was among those who made the announcement of an indefinite sit-in. Yogender Yadav, in a tweet, pointed out that talks with the Khattar government had failed.

“Just like the Kauravas’ refused to part with five villages, the Khattar government has refused to accept even our minimum demands,” he said.

Other senior Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) leaders including Balbir Singh Rajewal, Darshan Pal and Gurnam Singh Chaduni were among those who led farmers into the city after attending a Kisan Mahapanchayat in Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar on September 5.

A speaker at Karnal protest. Photo: Ismat Ara/The Wire

Charanjeet, ex-sarpanch from Haryana’s Sileru, expressed relief after the protest at Karnal ended, even though he was a regular participant. “This protest had emerged as a branch of the main protests on Delhi borders. It may have diverted us from the main issue, which is the demand to repeal the three farm laws” he said.

The demand of Rs 25 lakh compensation for the deceased farmer Sushil Kajal was not fulfilled.

Suresh Koth, a farmer leader who is an active member in the farmers’ protests, said that the farmers are satisfied and will now focus on strengthening the protests at the borders of Delhi.

“Our major demands have been accepted and if our martyred farmer’s family is satisfied, who are we to be unhappy? The most important thing was action against the SDM, and that has been ensured,” he told The Wire.

Farmers Claim a Protestor Was Killed in Karnal Violence, Khattar Holds Emergency Meeting

The BJP-JJP government in Haryana is facing criticism for the brutal lathi-charge on farmers. The opposition has demanded a judicial probe.

New Delhi: The Manohar Lal Khattar government in Haryana on Sunday convened an emergency meeting of ministers and senior officials to discuss the situation arising out of the lathi-charge on farmers protesting against a Bharatiya Janata Party meeting in Karnal on Saturday.

The government went into a huddle as some farmers’ groups claimed that one person was also killed in the police lathi-charge. The Akhil Bharatiya Kisan Mazdoor Sabha claimed that the man, identified as Sushil Kajal, a resident of Rampur Jata village, was injured in the violence and succumbed to his injuries.

BJP under fire as official’s ‘smash heads’ video goes viral

The BJP government in the state has come under severe criticism from all quarters and is facing the threat of renewed protests from angry farmers after a video surfaced showing the area sub-divisional magistrate, Ayush Sinha, directing cops to crack the skulls of those trying to breach the barricades put up around the meeting venue.

In the video, which was shared by several prominent citizens, Sinha was seen telling a group of police personnel that they should smash the heads of those trying to cross the barricade and that there need not be any further instruction on this. “Sar phod do (Smash their heads),” he was heard telling the police.

When confronted by mediapersons about his directions, Sinha did not deny his saying so and added that he only acted in accordance with provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

The video, as well as the fact that a large number of farmers sustained serious injuries as the police lathi-charged them to prevent them from reaching the Prem Plaza Hotel (venue of the BJP meeting), where chief minister Khattar and state BJP president Om Prakash Dhankar and other senior leaders of the party were present, has now caused a great deal of embarrassment and consternation in the government.

Farmers were beaten up 15 km from meeting venue

The police took on the farmers at the Bastara toll plaza, about 15 km from the venue, as they headed towards the hotel. The brutal attack on the farmers by the police was recorded and widely shared on social media, leading to more protests across the state.

Following the incident, farmers came out on several state and national highways and stopped traffic movement. The roads on which traffic flow was disrupted included the Ambala-Chandigarh and Hisar-Chandigarh national highways, and the Fatehabad-Chandigarh, Gohana-Panipat and the Jind-Patiala highways.

Khattar defends police action

However, Khattar defended the police action, saying the farmers should have protested peacefully. “Putting obstruction in official work is against democracy. If the protesters wanted to protest, they should have done it peacefully,” he said.

Khattar had added that the police has the responsibility to keep the highways and roads open and to maintain law and order. “If they jam highways and throw stones at police, then police will also take steps to maintain law and order. We will look into the episode and take necessary action,” he had said.

Opposition seeks judicial enquiry

Meanwhile, Shiromani Akali Dal leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa today demanded that cases of murder be registered against the SDM and other government officials responsible for the attack on the farmers.

The Congress has also called for a judicial inquiry into the incident. Congress president Rahul Gandhi tweeted that the head of the nation hangs in shame as blood of the farmers has been shed.

On the other hand former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda called a press conference to discuss the lathi-charge on the farmers in which he criticised the police action. “We condemn the violence against the farmers and demand a judicial enquiry into the incident,” he said.

Hooda insisted that use of the ‘lathi’ or cane was not the solution to any problem. “How an officer issued such directions needs to be probed.” He also questioned how an administrative official could issue such direct instructions to the cops when that was the sole prerogative of the police officers.

Meanwhile, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha has also called for a Bharat Bandh over the issue on September 25. The organisation leaders said this time they would constitute units in all villages and tehsils to strengthen the movement and to ensure a wider participation of farmers in the agitation, which has been on since November 25, 2020, when the Centre passed the three controversial farm laws.

Meanwhile, trying to shift the blame away from the government, Jannayak Janata Party leader and Haryana deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala assured action against SDM Sinha. He insisted that it was wrong on behalf of the official to issue such directions to the police.

Haryana: Farmers Injured as Police Lathicharge to Disperse Anti-Farm Laws Gathering

Farmers had decided to hold a peaceful protest against BJP leaders, for which they had assembled at the Bastara toll plaza, 15 km away, when police lathicharged.

New Delhi: Several were injured on Saturday, August 28, as police lathicharged protesters heading towards Karnal to demonstrate at a BJP meeting, against the farm laws.

The brutality of the police’s beatings, captured on several videos that went viral on social media, led to more protests across Haryana.

According to reports, protests are still on at the Fatehabad-Chandigarh, Gohana-Panipat and the Jind-Patiala highways, and the Ambala-Chandigarh and the Hisar-Chandigarh national highways.


The BJP meeting, held at Prem Plaza Hotel, according to Indian Express, was attended by Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, state BJP president Om Prakash Dhankar and other senior leaders of the party.


Haryana Bhartiya Kisan Union (Chaduni) chief Gurnam Singh Chaduni said that as part of their ongoing agitation against the farm laws, the farmers had decided to hold a peaceful protest against BJP leaders, for which they had assembled at the Bastara toll plaza, in response to a call given by the BKU.

The toll plaza was 15 kilometres from the hotel at Karnal.

Citing Section 144 of the CrPC imposed in the area banning assembly of five or more people, the police made several announcements over loud speakers, declaring the gathering by the protesters “unlawful”. In addition, all roads leading to the BJP meeting venue in Karnal had been heavily barricaded.


Police claimed only mild force was used as the protesters were blocking the highway, affecting traffic movement.

However, on Twitter, videos have been circulated showing senior officials – whom some have identified as the Karnal District Magistrate – allegedly asking personnel to “break the heads” of protesters.

Several protesters present at the site near the Bastara toll plaza claimed to have witnessed 8-10 people sustain injuries in the police action.

“Many farmers were injured after police brutally lathicharged them without any provocation. Some even could be seen with blood all over their clothes,” Chaduni said, strongly condemning the police action.

The use of force by the police invited severe criticism from various political parties.

Strongly condemning the action, senior Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala tweeted, “Khattar Sahab, today you have rained lathis on Haryanvis’ soul coming generations will remember the blood of farmers which has been spilled on the roads.”

Indian National Lok Dal senior leader Abhay Singh Chautala also strongly condemned the police action.

Swaraj India president and key leader of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha Yogendra Yadav said the lathicharge exposed the true face of the Haryana Police.

(With PTI inputs)