Karnal: Days after a lathi charge was carried out against farmers in Karnal, farmers held a Mahapanchayat here on Tuesday, and marched to the Mini Secretariat despite water cannons being used and police trying to detain protesters.
The protest was called by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, the umbrella body under which over 400 farmer associations are protesting against the new farm laws.
The farmers were demanding action against former Karnal Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Ayush Sinha, who had ordered the use of force against farmers on August 28. Sushil Kajal, a farmer, died after being injured in the lathi charge, though police said he died of a heart attack.
According to SKM, over two lakh farmers attended the Kisan Mahapanchayat in Karnal at the Anaj Mandi (grain market), amid heavy police presence. Prohibitory orders and internet restrictions were enforced in Karnal and surrounding areas ahead of the protest gathering.
Even as the administration allowed the Kisan Mahapanchayat, they refused to let the farmers march to the Mini Secretariat. A delegation of 11 farmers leaders including Rakesh Tikait, Yogendra Yadav, Gurnam Singh Charuni and Inderjit Singh was later called by the administration.
While the farmer leaders demanded action against Ayush Sinha, the authorities did not agree to it. The authorities also did not concede to demand that Kajal's family be compensated and cases against farmers be withdrawn.
As the talks remained inconclusive, SKM carried out a march from Anaj Mandi to Mini Secretariat despite use of water cannons by the police.
The police also detained farmer leaders briefly.
According to SKM, around 40 companies of security forces, including 10 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) were stationed in Karnal.
"The anxiety of the government already proves the might of farm movement," a statement by SKM said.
SKM added that preparations are on for Bharat Bandh to be held on September 27. Preparatory meetings are being held across the country. In Bihar, farm unions will hold a convention in Patna on September 11. In Madhya Pradesh, all preparatory meetings will be completed by September 10, after which farmer unions will hold assemblies to garner support for the Bandh.
In Lucknow, a meeting of farmer unions will be held on September 9 for SKM’s Mission Uttar Pradesh programme. (UNI)