Congress slams lathi charge on farmers at Kurukshetra, says anti-farmer attitude of BJP is on display
The Hindu
“The government should fulfil their demand for MSP and not try to brutally suppress their voice”
The Congress on Wednesday slammed the Manohar Lal Khattar government in Haryana for resorting to lathi charge against farmers who were protesting against their produce of sunflower seeds not being procured at minimum support price (MSP).
On Tuesday, protesting farmers blocked a highway at Haryana’s Kurukshetra for over six hours. The blockade also affected vehicular movement on the Delhi-Chandigarh and Delhi-Ludhiana-Amritsar routes and police used water cannons and resorted to lathi charge to disperse the agitators. The protesters claimed they were forced to sell their produce to private buyers at around ₹4,000 per quintal as against the MSP of ₹6,400 per quintal.
Attacking the BJP, the Opposition party said the ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan’ slogan given by former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri had now been transformed into ‘mare kisan, pite kisan, jai dhanwan’ (farmers die and are beaten up but the rich are hailed).
Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh said the BJP’s “anti-farmer attitude” was coming to the fore again and again. Sometimes farmers were attacked by bringing Land Acquisition Ordinance and “black agricultural laws” and sometimes they were assaulted directly, as happened in Kurukshetra, he said on Twitter.
“We strongly condemn the lathi charge on the farmers who were protesting peacefully. The government should fulfil their demand for MSP and not try to brutally suppress their voice,” tweeted Mr. Ramesh.
Addressing a press conference at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters, Rajya Sabha member Deepender Hooda said the Kurukshetra lathi charge was a “symbol of this government’s betrayal of farmers”.
“They were protesting democratically but ‘lath tantra’was deployed which has shamed the nation,” he said, adding that the demand of the farmers should be accepted and those arrested during the protests must be given financial compensation.
Deadly rinderpest outbreak devastates Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, highlighting the threat of diseases from domestic cattle to wild populations.
Suryanarkoil Mutt's history, traditions, and leadership succession explained in detail with references and comparisons to other Saivaite Mutts.
Upalokayukta takes action against officials for neglecting century-old Kelageri Tank in Dharwad, setting 20-day deadline for rejuvenation.
On World Fisheries Day, India launches projects for marine and inland aquaculture, aiming to transform the fisheries sector and blue economy.
Lokayukta police raid uncovers ₹26.6 crore in assets from government officials in Karnataka, leading to investigations and cases filed.
Court boycott by advocates in Tamil Nadu demands Advocates Protection Bill for safety, affecting litigants from remote villages.
Army faces allegations of harassment and torture in Kishtwar, Jammu; probe ordered, sparking concerns over human rights violations.
Karnataka’s software and services exports crossed ₹4.11 lakh crore during fiscal 2023-24 (March 2024) from ₹3.2 lakh crore a year ago, marking a 27% year-on-year growth, Minister for IT&BT, Priyank Kharge, said here on Thursday quoting Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) data.
Continuous rainfall in Thoothukudi has caused severe hardship for residents as rainwater has inundated several areas. Efforts to drain stagnant water in the city have been intensified
Indictment details Adani bribery scheme to secure solar power contracts, involving Adani Green Energy and Azure Power executives.
Legislative Assembly Speaker U.T. Khader officially launched the operations of Namma Yatri, Bengaluru-based mobility app dedicated to empowering drivers, in Mangaluru.