Political parties 'sponsoring' farmers' stir: Manohar Khattar

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Khattar on Saturday alleged that some political parties and organisations are “sponsoring” the farmers’ stir against the Centre’s farm laws.

He also hit out at Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, claiming that despite wanting to talk to him over the issue, he did not respond even when telephone calls to his office were made for three days.

However, Amarinder Singh junked the allegations that he did not speak to Khattar over the farmers' issue despite repeated attempts and also said he will not speak to the Haryana chief minister until he seeks an apology for "inflicting brutality" on farmers marching to Delhi.

Claiming a “conspiracy”, Khattar told reporters in Gurgaon that officials in the Punjab Chief Minister's Office are “giving directions” to the protesting farmers from Punjab.

The stir has been build up by farmers from Punjab and some political parties and organisations are “sponsoring” it, he said.

Khattar claimed that Haryana farmers have not participated in the stir. “For this, I want to thank Haryana farmers,” he said.

“I also appreciate the Haryana Police that for past two to three days since this issue (Delhi Chalo march) started, they exercised restraint and did not use any force,” he said.

The CM alleged that some people are grinding their own political axe, which needs to be condemned.

When asked if he tried to speak to Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh before the farmers' march, Khattar said, “My office told me that they tried to contact him over telephone on six to seven occasions and every time his staff used to say we will soon get back and then they used to give the plea that the CM was busy in a meeting and so on.” “But it was a very strange situation that the chief minister of a state wants to talk to his counterpart of other state but is unable to get through after so many attempts. For six years, I have been a CM. Never before such a thing has happened. We even talk to opposition leaders.

Earlier too, I have been having telephone conversations with the Punjab CM and even when he was busy, he used to call back after 30 or 60 minutes. This time for three days attempts to reach him were made, but he didn't respond,” alleged Khattar.

A personal secretary to the Haryana chief minister also released a list on his Twitter handle, claiming calls made to contact the Punjab chief minister on November 23 and 24. Alleging a conspiracy, Khattar said “card holders” (officials) in the Punjab CM’s office have been directing protesters.

Khattar asserted that farmers should talk to the Centre.

“There is no purpose of bringing large gatherings to Delhi. We appealed to Punjab farmers that their representatives could come and talk. Farmers must talk to the Centre, that is the only way forward,” he said.

While responding to a question that does the state have inputs regarding some “Khalistani connection” to the protest, Khattar replied, “We have inputs of some unwanted elements who have come in this crowd”.

He said this is not the right time to make further comments on this while adding things will be disclosed at an appropriate time.

Meanwhile, Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij in Ambala said, “Farmers from the rest of the country have accepted the new farm laws but in Punjab due to political reasons and Amarinder Singh's engineering, they are holding a stir.” He hoped that farmers will soon realise that the laws are for their benefit.