Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar held his Punjab counterpart Amarinder Singh responsible for thousands of farmers marching to Delhi to protest against the centre's controversial new farm laws.
CM Khattar on Saturday said that farmers from his state did not participate in the 'Dilli Chalo' protest march, adding the ongoing demonstrations is being driven by certain political parties and unions.
"The movement was started by farmers of Punjab. However, there is some connection with certain political parties and some unions. Farmers of Haryana did not take part in these protests (Dilli Chalo) and I would congratulate them for that. I would like to praise the Haryana police for performing their duty with utmost composure for the past two days," Khattar said while addressing reporters in Gurugram.
"There is no point in trying to meet the government in such large numbers. I have made an appeal to the farmers that their representative should talk to the Centre. Even our union ministers and the Home Minister has reiterated this point. I don't see any other way out of this," the Haryana Chief Minister added.
The Haryana Chief Minister further condemned the politics that is being played in the name farmers' protest. He also said that the state police had shown restraint in handling the situation.
On Amarinder Singh's criticism of Haryana Police
Talking about Amarinder Singh's criticism of Haryana Police, Khattar said, "I made continuous effort to get in touch with Amarinder Singh. We tried to get in touch with him but we could not get hold of him. This has never happened in my political career ever."
This comes after Amarinder Singh on Friday slammed the Haryana government, accusing the state Police of taking a "confrontationist approach" against the farmers.
Over the reports of Khalistan connection in the farmers' protest, Khattar said, "We had this input that there are certain unwanted elements that were present in these protests. It would be unwise to make those reports public at this moment. We will wait until we will gather substantial evidence."
Thousands of farmers from several states began marching to Delhi this week. Photos from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh show large convoys of tractors and trailers, filled with food, fuel and essential supplies, fighting their way past police blockades and barriers of the police forces.
After days of a standoff with police and after facing teargas shells, water cannons and barricading on various points on the Delhi-Haryana border by police, the farmers 'Dilli Chalo' march was allowed to enter Delhi on Friday and proceed to the ground in Burari situated in its north-west.
However, the farmers have made their intentions clear and said that they will not give up till they reach Delhi, and will not leave the city till the centre has repealed the three controversial laws.
With agency inputs
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