A day after the Muzaffarnagar mahapanchayat, where farmers protesting against the three farm laws gave a call to campaign against the BJP, the action has shifted to Karnal, the home town of Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, where farmers have called for an indefinite gherao of the government's Mini Secretariat starting Tuesday.
As many as 40 companies of security forces, including 10 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), have been deployed in the town, and internet services have been suspended from Monday afternoon to Tuesday night. Internet and SMS services have been suspended in Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind and Panipat too.
Wary of the situation escalating, Karnal Deputy Commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav has issued prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC, which prohibits the assembly of five or more people.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha had on August 30 given a call for gherao of the secretariat, demanding registration of an FIR against officers who had ordered a lathicharge on agitators during their protest against a BJP event in Karnal on August 28.
On Monday, Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij said, “I have ordered ADGP (Law and Order) Navdeep Singh Virk to be present in Karnal to oversee the situation and to ensure peaceful conclusion of the event. Stern action as per law will be taken against those trying to disturb law and order.”
Farmer leader Subhash Gurjar said, “The morale of farmers is high after their show of strength in…
