Congress Hits Out at Haryana Police Over Alleged Brutality in Punjab Border Incident

The march of farmers to Delhi was forcefully stopped by Haryana Police at the Punjab-Haryana border, leading to a halt in their peaceful protest. The law enforcement officials deployed tear gas and physical measures to prevent the farmers, who were demanding the legalization of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and addressing other farming issues, from advancing.

The abrupt intervention by the police not only caused injuries to some of the protesters but also sparked a wave of condemnation, particularly from the Congress party, which criticized the actions as autocratic and detrimental to the democratic rights of citizens.

Partap Singh Bajwa, a Congress leader, voiced his strong disapproval of the BJP-led Haryana government's approach to handling the farmers' march. Bajwa pointed out the excessive use of police force and the firing of tear gas shells as measures to disrupt the farmers' peaceful journey towards the national capital. He highlighted the plight of the 101 farmers, known as Marjeevda Jatha, who began their foot march with the intention to peacefully demand the formal recognition of MSP among other farmer welfare issues. According to Bajwa, the Leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly, the Haryana Police's actions represented an unnecessary show of cruelty.

The march, organized by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, started from the Shambhu border with the farmers setting out at 1 pm. Their objective was to reach Delhi to press for their demands. However, the Ambala administration's prohibitory order led the Haryana Police to warn the farmers against continuing their march. Despite the warnings, as the farmers tried to cross the barricades, they were met with tear gas, ultimately forcing them to retreat back to their starting point in Punjab.

Bajwa condemned the Haryana government under Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, accusing it of emulating the suppressive tactics of the previous administration led by Manohar Lal Khattar. He criticized the government's actions as "highly undemocratic" and a violation of citizens' constitutional rights to peaceful protest. Bajwa questioned the Haryana government's apprehensive response to the farmers merely passing through the state to reach Delhi. He argued that every Indian citizen holds the right to peacefully protest, especially in the national capital, and labeled the government's attempts to thwart the farmers' march as "autocratic and deplorable."

Highlighting the broader significance of the farmers' demands, Bajwa emphasized that legalizing MSP would not only benefit the farmers in Punjab but also those across the nation, including those in Haryana, who are struggling with financial difficulties. He urged the Haryana government to recognize the national scope of the issue and the potential relief that legalizing MSP could bring to farmers throughout India.

The farmers, following the confrontation with the police and the injuries sustained by some of their fellow protesters, decided to suspend their foot march. This decision marked a temporary pause in their efforts to reach Delhi and advocate for their rights and demands. The incident at the Punjab-Haryana border sheds light on the ongoing struggles faced by farmers in India and the contentious relationship between the government and agricultural protesters seeking to voice their concerns.