Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar Faces Farmers Wrath; Amid Protests In Karnal, CM's Chopper Unable To Land

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar's meeting with farmers at a village near Karnal on January 10 had to be cancelled as his chopper was unable to land at the venue, with protesters raging on the ground below. Farmers protesting against the centre's agri-sector reforms clashed with the police and the meeting venue was vandalised. Visuals showed many of the protesters on the dais, throwing chairs, tearing up banners & posters. But despite water cannons, tear gas and batons of the police, they managed to break the barricades and reach the venue of the event and pull down the preparations. Haryana CM Khattar blamed the opposition for the protests, he said "farmers never behave this way". On January 10, Congress's Randeep Surjewala tweeted saying, “Respected Manohar Lal ji, please stop this pretence of Kisan Mahapanchayat in Kemla village”. Round after round of meetings have failed to break the deadlock. More than 60 farmers have lost their lives, some for camping outdoors in the harsh winter, a few by suicide.