The Haryana Police have booked 13 farmers on charges of attempt to murder and rioting on December 23, a day after a group of people protesting against the Centre's farm laws allegedly blocked Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar's convoy and hurled sticks at it.?
The opposition Congress has criticised the move with its state chief Kumari Selja saying it showed the government's desperation. Many took to social media calling it a "death of democracy".
On Tuesday, a group of protesting farmers had shown black flags to Khattar when his convoy was passing through Ambala City.?
The state chief minister was in the city to address public meetings in support of the party's candidates for the upcoming civic body polls.
Farmers had waved black flags at the chief minister's convoy while it was crossing Agrasen Chowk.?
They also raised slogans against the government Police on Wednesday said some farmers tried to charge towards the convoy and blocked its movement for some time.
Police said some farmers hurled sticks at some vehicles.?
Reacting to it, Haryana Congress chief Kumari Selja said the Haryana government has crossed all the limits by registering the case against the farmers.
Filing a case of attempt to murder and under other sections against the farmers shows the government's desperation. In a democracy, everyone has the right to free speech but when the voice of people is suppressed, they are forced to come to the streets for their rights. The voice of farmers is being continuously suppressed by the BJP government. People have lost trust in this government. This is the reason why black flags were shown by the farmers to Chief Minister Manohar Lal, she was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.