Ahead of Haryana Chief Minister’s Manohar Lal Khattar's visit to a nearby village, police and protesting farmers got into a clash at a toll plaza near Haryana’s Karnal. CM Khattar is expected to attend farmers meeting at the village where he will be speaking about the advantages of the three agriculture laws that were passed in September last year.
In cellphone footage, the police are seen clashing with the farmers using tear gas shells who are trying to enter the Kaimla village. A huge amount of police personnel has been deployed at the village ahead of this meeting.
BJP-ruled Haryana had been mishandling the farmers since November when it was trying to stop the farmers on their way to Delhi from across the state as well as those in Punjab. For days, there were reports and video footages of police clashing with farmers and using batons, barricades, tear gas and water cannons. Following the huge criticism, the Central government had decided to conduct a huge outreach programme to dispel "misconceptions" about the laws.
But the Chief Minister's outreach programme has not been fruitful over the last few weeks in this area after farmers have hardened their stance in Delhi.
Congress's Randeep Surjewala today tweeted: "Respected Manohar Lal ji, please stop this pretence of Kisan Mahapanchayat in Kaimla village. By playing with the sentiments of those who provide us with food, please stop meddling with the law and order situation".
"If you want to have a conversation, have it with those who have been protesting for the last 46 days," read another tweet from Mr Surjewala.
Local protesters on Friday had clashed with the villagers and the local BJP workers, who are promoting the visit. The face-off started when the villagers didn't allow the farmers to enter into the village to register their protest.