Haryana ministers may face resistance on Republic Day

Sunit Dhawan

Tribune News Service

Rohtak, January 22

Haryana ministers and other leaders of the BJP-JJP regime slated to attend Republic-Day functions in the state are likely to face stiff resistance from certain organisations of farmers as well as local residents in view of the ongoing agitation by farmers against the recently enacted agriculture laws.

Having got intelligence inputs in this regard, the administrative and police authorities are making preparations to ensure the maintenance of peace, law and order.

As per an official statement issued here today, police personnel have been undergoing a special anti-riot training drive at Police Lines in Rohtak since January 12.

“The police force is fully competent and prepared to tackle any situation and nobody will be allowed to take the law into their own hands at any cost. The police personnel are being given specialized riot-control training and handling of modern weapons and equipment,” said Rohtak SP Rahul Sharma.

Farmers’ organisations have maintained that the political leaders should stay away from the Republic-Day functions to be organised across Haryana as they may have to face the wrath of the people of the state.

Representatives of farmers’ organisations, who were invited for a meeting with the district administrative and police authorities at Rohtak yesterday, suggested that government officials or some other non-political persons should head these functions this year.

Rohtak Deputy Commissioner Capt Manoj Kumar exhorted the representatives of the farmers’ organizations not to oppose the political leaders or disrupt the Republic-Day functions in national interest.

“Republic Day is a national festival and it should be kept away from politics,” he said, adding that the concerns put forward by the farmers’ organizations would be conveyed to the state authorities.

The Deputy Commissioner asserted that the farmers’ organizations had assured that no violent protest would be staged against the government functionaries/ministers visiting the district for the Republic-Day function on January 26.

However, sources maintained that the arrival of certain leaders at Republic Day functions could be opposed.

“Our organisation has no plan to oppose the entry of any minister or leader of the ruling coalition on Republic Day. However, we cannot take the responsibility of other organizations or people in general,” said Preet Singh, the district president of the All-India Kisan Sabha, who was present at the meeting.

He pointed out that the people were anguished at the stance adopted by the government regarding the farmers’ demands, adding that certain faction(s) of the BKU had recently announced that they would oppose the entry of political leaders at Republic-Day functions.

On being questioned about the matter, the Deputy Commissioner stated that no possibility could be ruled out, though he asserted that the district administration and police force were prepared to tackle any situation.

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