A day ahead of the program to gherao the ‘mini secretariat’ in Karnal on Tuesday against the August 28 police lathi charge on the protesting farmers, the administration has banned the assembly of people in the district on Monday. Officials said the district administration banned the assembly of five or more people by imposing prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).
Here, a day before the gherao of the mini secretariat in Karnal, Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij said that everyone has the right to express their views peacefully. Vij said- Everyone has the right to speak and demonstrate. Tomorrow farmers are doing it too, but do it peacefully. We have made all the arrangements. Some roads have also been changed for the convenience of the people. I myself have ordered the ADGP (law and order) to stay there.
In view of the announcement of the gherao of the farmers, the District Magistrate (DM) of Karnal has advised people to avoid non-essential travel on NH-44. Karnal DM Nishant Yadav said that farmers have called a mahapanchayat at Kisan Mandi in Karnal yesterday. I want to appeal to the people to avoid traveling on National Highway-44 (Border of Karnal) tomorrow if it is not necessary. We will not allow the secretariat and the highway to be blocked.
Tight security arrangements have been made by Karnal Superintendent of Police (SP) Gangaram Punia. He said that in view of the Kisan Mahapanchayat in Karnal yesterday, arrangements were made to maintain law and order. 40 companies of security forces have been deployed, out of which 10 companies belong to CAPF. 5 Superintendents of Police and around 25 DSP level officers are also posted.
According to an advisory issued by Haryana Police, there may be some traffic disruption in Karnal district on the main National Highway No. 44 (Ambala-Delhi) on Galwar. “Therefore, people using NH-44 are advised to avoid traveling to Karnal city or use alternate routes to reach their destination on September 7.
All citizens are being informed about these arrangements in advance so that they can modify their travel plans to avoid any inconvenience. He said that strict action would be taken against those who try to disturb the law and order. The United Kisan Morcha (SKM), which is leading various farmers’ organizations opposing the agricultural laws, has threatened to gherao the mini secretariat in Karnal on September 7 if their demands are not met.
Haryana Bharatiya Kisan Union (Chaduni) chief Gurnam Singh Chaduni said on Monday that a huge panchayat would be organized here on Tuesday, after which the farmers would gherao the mini secretariat. “Farmers will gather at the new grain market in Karnal on Tuesday morning,” he said.