Khattar should quit for using force against farmers: Selja

New Delhi, Jan 11 (IANS) The Congress demanded that Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar resign in wake of the police using force against farmers who were protesting against the farm laws in the state's Karnal on Sunday.Addressing a press conference here, Congress' state chief Kumari Selja said: "The Chief Minister should resign as he has lost the confidence of the people, especially farmers."She said that this is not the first time Haryana Police has used force against the farmers.On Sunday, just ahead of Khattar's arrival at a "Kisan Mahapanchayat" in Karnal - Khattar's home district, hundreds of protesting farmers indulged in vandalism at the venue, forcing authorities to cancel the event.Tension prevailed as police fired tear-gas shells, used water cannons and baton-charged the farmers headed towards the meeting venue to oppose holding of the 'Kisan Mahapanchayat', through which the BJP-led government aimed to highlight the "benefits" of the three central farm laws.However, protesters broke through the barricades put up in front of the stage for security, smashed flower pots, tables and chairs put up on stage and nearby areas. They also tore the banners and pulled down the garlands used to decorate the stage.Before ransacking the meeting venue, the sloganeering farmers, carrying black flags, broke through six police checkpoints to reach the temporary helipad in nearby Kaimla village, where Khattar was scheduled to land, and damaged it.Over 2,000 farmers, apart from a large number of officials and Cabinet Ministers, were present at the venue when protesters swarmed the site.
--IANS miz/vd