Kisan Andolan: Farmers Continue Agitation Outside Karnal Secretariat

Farmers protesting outside the district headquarters of Karnal on Wednesday seeking legal action against IAS officer Ayush Sinha for giving police an official order to do lathi-charge on farmers last month. 

Following a failed conversation with the local administration, a large group of farmers protesting against Haryana government's lathi-charge blocked the mini-gate of the secretariat on Tuesday (7 September) evening, with many of them spending the night outdoors. 

Farmers' union leaders are demanding for Sinha's suspension after he was caught on tape ordering police officers to "crush heads" if demonstrators crossed the line. 

Approximately ten protestors were injured in a confrontation with police as they attempted to march towards a BJP gathering. Their leaders also claimed that a farmer died later, which the authorities denied. 

A group of farmers, including many leaders of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), stayed out overnight outside the mini-main secretariat's entrance. Volunteers at the protest location were observed making tea and serving food in the morning. 

On Wednesday, Haryana Bharatiya Kisan Union (Chaduni) head Gurnam Singh Chaduni told reporters, "We are not going anywhere until our demands are met." 

He responded to the demand for Sinha's suspension by saying, “First, we are saying transferring him is not a punishment. We are also saying when farmers are booked for even road blockade, why not take action against the officer who ordered (police) to break heads. Is there any law under which such an order can be given?" 

On Tuesday, Karnal Deputy Commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav said the administration had invited farm leaders to a new round of negotiations and was hopeful of resolving the matter. Because the situation in Karnal is "still volatile," the Home Department has extended the suspension of mobile internet services until Wednesday midnight.