Haryana chief minister cancels farmers' meet after chaos by protesters
The protestors, who easily outnumbered the police, vandalised the event venue which led to a major scuffle with the organisers of the Kisan Panchayat
A group of farmers in India protesting against the country's government's agri-sector laws ransacked the venue where Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar was to meet with them. Following the incident, the chief minister canceled the meeting.
Haryana police had started the crackdown on the protesting farmers, when they tried to enter the Kemla village, using tear gas shells and water cannons, reports the NDTV.
But the farmers had managed to enter the village and reach the venue of the meeting.
Cellphone footage showed many of them on the dais, shouting, throwing down chairs and tearing up posters.
Haryana chief minister was scheduled to attend the gathering of farmers at the village and speak on the benefits of the Centre's three farm laws passed in September. Anticipating trouble, arrangements were made for heavy security and a number of police personnel were deployed at the village ahead of the meeting.
BJP-ruled Haryana had made headlines in November when it decided to stop the farmers on way to Delhi from across the state as well as those in Punjab.
For days, there have been reports and video footage of the police clashing with farmers, using batons, barricades, tear gas and water cannons.
Following the huge criticism, the Central government had decided to conduct a huge outreach programme to dispel "misconceptions" about the laws.
