'General Dyer Govt': Congress Condemns Haryana Police Action Against Protesting Farmers In Karnal

Reportedly, around 10 people were injured on Saturday while police lathi-charged a group of protesting farmers disrupting traffic movement on a highway in Karnal

New Delhi: The Congress party on Saturday condemned the lathi-charge on farmers protesting at Karnal, likening the BJP-JJP government in Haryana to the "General Dyer government".

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi shared a photo widely circulating on social media, wherein a farmer is seen with blood-soaked clothes after the lathi charge.

"Once again the blood of farmers is shed, India's head bows in shame," he wrote in a tweet in Hindi, using the hashtags "#FarmersProtest" and "Anti-farmer BJP".

Congress party's chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala also condemned the attack, saying that the BJP-JJP regime is the "General Dyer government".

He put out a purported video of a police officer giving instructions to the personnel to beat up the protestors. 

"CM-Dy CM's conspiracy to attack farmers in Karnal is clear from the orders of the Duty Magistrate, who is ordering the police to break the heads of farmers and lash them with sticks. BJP-JJP is the 'General Dyer' government," he wrote in a tweet in Hindi.

"Khattar Sahib, Today in Karnal sticks have been blown on the soul of every Haryanvi. The oppression of the sinful BJP government that bleeds farmers is like demons. The coming generations will remember the blood from farmers' bodies flown on the streets," the Congress leader added in another tweet.

Notably, BJP leader Varun Gandhi also sharply reacted to the video, writing: "I hope this video is edited and the DM did not say this… Otherwise, this is unacceptable in democratic India to do to our own citizens".

Around 10 Injured In Karnal Lathi Charge

The responses come as around 10 people were injured on Saturday while police lathi-charged a group of protesting farmers disrupting traffic movement on a highway, news agency PTI reported.

They were heading towards Karnal to protest against a meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party attended by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, state BJP president Om Prakash Dhankar and other leaders.

Several farmers had gathered at the Bastara toll plaza near Karnalin in response to a call given by the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU). The protestors agitating against three agrarian laws have been opposing public functions of the ruling BJP-JJP government in Haryana. 

CM ML Khattar Responds

Responding to the issue raised over police action, Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar said: "Obstructing official work is against democracy. If they wanted to protest, they should've done it peacefully. If they jam highways and throw stones at police, then the police will also take steps to maintain law and order. We'll look into it and take necessary action", ANI reported.

Karnal SDM Ayush Sinha responded on the viral video showing him asking police to hit protesting farmers on their heads: "Stone pelting had started at many places... It was said during the briefing to use force proportionately".

The state police garnered severe criticism for the action against the farmers and several roads were blockaded at different places in protest.

The police, however, maintain that only mild force was used as the protesters were blocking the highway, affecting traffic movement.

(With inputs from agencies)