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Farm and Forest

One injured amidst a Haryana farmer protest turns violent

While Hisar farmers broke the windshield of a BJP MP’s vehicle on Friday, another group in Rohtak laid siege around a temple, trapping visiting BJP members inside for hours

Haryana

Chaos broke out in Haryana on November 5, 2021 when protesting farmers broke the windscreen of Rajya Sabha BJP MP Ram Chander Jangra’s vehicle in Hisar. The farmers also reportedly surrounded several BJP leaders at a Rohtak temple.

Jangra arrived in Narnaund village on Friday For an inauguration event when farmers gathered in large numbers, holding black flags to protest his visit to the village. Farmers organisation Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) claimed that the MP had avoided facing protesters present at a Diwali event in Meham, Rohtak by travelling in an unidentifiable vehicle. At the time, farmers said there was a tense stand-off between the police and protesters.

The tension worsened on the following day, when the mob broke the windscreen of Jangra’s car and the police intervened with lathi-charge. The SKM claimed that around six farmers were injured including farmer Kuldeep Singh Rana who suffered head injuries and was sent to the ICU in Jindal Hospital.

However, according to the Indian Express, Narnaund DSP Jugal Kishor Ram claimed that Rana fell into a street gutter. He further said that there was no lathi-charge but the police detained two farmers for breaking the windshield of the car and rioting.

In response, hundreds of farmers gathered for a sit-in protest outside Narnaund police station to ensure that the two protesters were released unconditionally. In a press release, the SKM said that farmers were incensed by the Rajya Sabha BJP MP’s objectionable comments on November 4 when he called protestors “jobless alcoholics and drunkards.”

“The derogatory and insulting remarks made by the BJP MP are highly condemnable, and SKM warns BJP leaders to desist from uttering such statements,” said SKM.

Meanwhile, the tension in Rohtak did not dissipate as farmers laid siege around a temple in Kiloi village where Haryana Minister Manish Grover and several BJP leaders intended to watch the live telecast of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday. While farmers said a large number of police personnel were deployed in the area, The Hindu reported that farmers prevented leaders from leaving the premises by deflating the tyres of the leaders’ cars.

Protesters demanded an apology from Grover and other leaders for entering the village despite their failure to address the issue of the contentious three farm laws. Police from neighbouring districts of Jind, Sonipat and Jhajjar were called in to help the party members leave the area. Farmers said they were eventually allowed to leave after Grover apologised to the people. However, authorities said that there was some “misunderstanding” regarding the situation and that Grover did not apologise to the people.

On November 26, farmers will complete a year of protest against the three farm laws on Delhi borders. Their demands for the last 12 months are: withdrawal of the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance & Farm Services Act, the Farmer’s Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, the Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2021 and demanding a legal guarantee to Minimum Support Price (MSP).

Related:

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50 farmers martyred in October alone!

BJP regime’s words don’t match actions: Farmers

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