Water cannons used in Kurukshetra, Ambala to disperse farmers

Nitish Sharma

Tribune News Service

Ambala, November 25

After breaking barricades and facing water cannons, hundreds of farmers led by Bhartiya Kisan Union (Charuni) chief Gurnam Singh Charuni crossed Ambala and Pipli in Kurukshetra on Wednesday to continue their march to Delhi to protest against the three farm laws.

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On the ‘Delhi Chalo’ call given by various farm unions, a large number of farmers under the banner of the Sanyukta Kisan Morcha from various districts, including Ambala, Kurukshetra and Yamunanagar, assembled near the Mohra grain market in Ambala on the NH-44. Raising anti-government slogans, they started their march towards Delhi.

The Ambala administration had put up barricades near Farauli village, but angry farmers broke the barricades in no time. Besides the police, Rapid Action Force was deployed. After removal of barricades, langar was served to farmers amid a drizzle.

Adamant on their march, farmers proceeded on their tractor-trailers and other vehicles, forcing police personnel to make way. Charuni and other farmer leaders standing on a vehicle fell when the driver sped up.

“Our fight is not against the state government. We want to reach Delhi to raise our voice against wrong policies of the Union Government. We had been protesting and raising our voice for the past four months, but no attention was paid. The state government should not try to disturb our march and let us go peacefully, otherwise it will be responsible for the consequences. We will reach Delhi at any cost,” said Charuni.

He said farmers would resume their protest march to Delhi at 8 am on Thursday. At present, they were camping at Samanabahu village.

Ambala DC Ashok Sharma said, “Our purpose was to ensure that the law and order situation remained under control. Traffic was diverted and a large number of farmers went back.”

“The BKU chief was not ready for dialogue. Farmers pelted us with stones and damaged barricades. They tried to run policemen over and disturb the law and order situation. We avoided direct confrontation. Since no force was used, it was hard to stop them. Appropriate action will be taken as per the law and cases registered,” said SP Rajesh Kalia.

The Kurukshetra administration had put up barricades near Tyora village in Kurukshetra. After being stopped for nearly two hours, angry farmers managed to break barricades and continued their march. The police used water cannons, but failed to stop farmers.

SIDELIGHTS

Chautala’s vehicle stopped

Hisar: INLD supremo Om Prakash Chautala was stopped by farmers near Khuyan Malkana toll plaza on the Dabwali-Sirsa road when he was going to Sirsa from Chautala village on Wednesday. The farmers had blocked the road at the toll plaza. The staff accompanying Chautala urged the protesters to let their vehicles go but the protesters refused. Chautala later took an alternative route via Neelanwali village to reach Sirsa. The police have placed stones on the highways connecting Haryana and Punjab in Sirsa and Jind districts.

Deputy CM in line of fire

Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala is in the line of fire once again. Farmers are agitated with the JJP and its leaders for keeping mum during protests against the farm laws. All India Kisan Sangharsh Co-ordination Committee leader Inderjit Singh sought a reply from Dushyant for the government’s action against the farmers’ agitation. “Dushyant claims to be a well-wisher of farmers, but is nowhere to be found when farmers are being suppressed by the police at the instance of his government. This is a violation of fundamental rights of the people and anti-national as well.” he said.

Grooms stuck on NH

The protest has resulted in long queues on NH-44 near Taraori, Karnal. Hundreds of vehicles including the ones carrying bridegrooms are waiting for traffic clearance. Due to ‘Dev Uthani Ekadashi’ and ‘Tulsi Vivah’, the day is considered auspicious for solemnising marriages. “Today is my marriage and we left for Delhi from Ludhiana at 11 am. We had to reach Delhi before 8 pm. But at 8.30 pm, we are stuck in Karnal,” said a groom from Ludhiana.

Cops invited to have food

Bonhomie was witnessed between farmers and police during langar when the farmers invited the on-duty policemen to have lunch with them soon after a small face-off between them on the NH in Ambala. Though the policemen refused the invitation politely as they were on duty, the farmers continued to call them and said that there was no rift between them as they both (farmers and police) were performing their respective duties.

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