Haryana Forms Committee To Talk To Farmers On Lifting Highway Blockade

The state government's move comes six days before the Supreme Court is expected to hear a petition regarding the blockade of NH-44 by protesting farmers since November last year.

Haryana has formed a special committee to begin talks with farmers about opening passage to the Delhi border after a high-level meeting held by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. The state government's move comes six days before the Supreme Court is expected to hear a petition regarding the blockade of NH-44 by protesting farmers. The highway has been blocked by farmers protesting against the Centre's new farm laws at the Singhu and Tikri borders since November last year.

The new committee, state home minister Anil Vij said, will comply with the orders of the Supreme Court, which asked the Centre and governments of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana to find a solution (to blocked roads) while recognising the farmers' right to protest.

The committee will hold talks with the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha – the umbrella body of around 40 farmers' unions which has been spearheading the protest. The farmers, however, have been hugely upset with the use of force by the state police, which led to a flashpoint in Karnal earlier this month.

Mr Vij said the committee will be chaired by the state home department's Additional Chief Secretary Rajiv Arora. Senior police officers of the state will also be part of the committee, he added.