Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Monday, 30 August, said the choice of words of the IAS officer, who was caught on video issuing instructions to the police to ‘crack open’ the protesting farmers’ heads, was “not correct”, but added that strictness had to ensured to maintain law and order.
“If any action has to be taken (against the officer), it would first have to be assessed by the district administration. The DGP (Director General of Police) is also looking into it. To maintain law and order, strictness had to be ensured,” Khattar was quoted as saying while briefing the media on Monday.
He also held Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh responsible for the ongoing farmers' agitation. "Farmers protesting there [at Delhi borders] are from Punjab. Farmers from Haryana are not protesting at Singhu or Tikri border," he stated, news agency ANI reported.
He also expressed that Singh was "instigating" farmers in his state and Bhupinder Singh Hooda was doing the same in Haryana. He asserted, "No one has the right to block roads indefinitely."
Karnal DM Express Regret, Then Defends Officer
Karnal DM Nishant Yadav on Monday, expressed regret over Karnal’s Sub-Divisional Magistrate's (SDM) words against the farmers and went on to defend his 'intention' behind the violent comments.
"Some words shouldn't have been used. As head of Karnal admn, I express my regret. But SDM, on duty, is a sincere officer. He used some words in heat of the moment, he shouldn't have. But his intention wasn't wrong," Yadav stated, ANI reported.
Saying that a 'tailored' version of the incident was circulating on media, he added, "The complete briefing wasn't presented, that's how he properly briefed the police force, where he said if protesters reach there [their spot beyond two nakas], they'll be stopped, talked to, and if they don't, force will be used as there's no force after their naka," ANI quoted.
What the IAS Officer Had Said
In a video that went viral on social media on Saturday, 28 August, Karnal’s Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Ayush Sinha could be seen standing in front of a group of policemen and instructing them to not allow farmers to go beyond a barricade.
"It is very simple and clear. Whoever he is, wherever he is from, no one should be allowed to reach there. We will not let this line be breached at any cost. Just pick up your lathi and hit them hard... It's very clear; there is no need for any instruction. Just thrash them hard. If I see a single protester here, I want to see his head smashed... crack open their heads," Sinha said in the video.
Haryana Deputy CM Dushyant Chautala had on Sunday condemned the usage of such words for the farmers and said that action would be taken against Sinha.
'Remarks Expose Anti-Farmer Agenda': Punjab CM
Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh censured Khattar's stance on the issue, saying that he had defended a "criminal assault on peacefully protesting farmers by putting the onus of their agitation on Punjab," and added that his remarks "exposed his government’s anti-farmer agenda", ANI quoted.
He went on to remind Khattar, as well as his DY Dushyant Chautala that farmers protesting against the BJP meeting in Karnal, the police that rained lathis on them belonged to Haryana and not Punjab.
Demonstration Outside Chandigarh Press Club
In response to the row, farmers staged a protest against the BJP leader near Chandigarh Press Club, while the CM addressed a media briefing over the completion of 2,500 days of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the state, ANI reported.
(With inputs from ANI)
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