Chandigarh, July 15:
Police in Haryana have charged over 100 farmers with sedition after they allegedly attacked and damaged the official vehicle of Deputy Speaker Ranbir Gangwa during a protest against the members of the state’s ruling BJP and the party’s controversial new farm laws.
The incident took place in Sirsa in Haryana on July 11, and the FIR was filed on the same day.
The complaint – listed multiple charges apart from sedition, including ‘attempt to murder’ and ‘obstructing a public servant in discharge of public functions’. Two leaders of the farmers’ movement – Harcharan Singh and Prahlad Singh – were among those named in the FIR.
News of the sedition charges comes hours after the Supreme Court described the law “colonial”, and asked the government if it is “still necessary after 75 years of Independence”.
The law is a serious threat to the functioning of institutions and holds “enormous power” for misuse with no accountability for the executive, the court said, asking the government (represented by Attorney General KK Venugopal) why it “is not looking into this law”.
“If a police officer wants to fix anybody in a village for something, he can use Section 124 A… People are scared,” a top court bench led by Chief Justice NV Ramana said.
Mr Venugopal argued that the law should be retained with “guidelines”.
The court today also agreed to hear a fresh challenge to the controversial law – one mounted by a former Army officer. Major-General SG Vombatkere (retd) has challenged the constitutional validity of the law on grounds it causes a “chilling effect” on freedom of speech and expression.
Protesting farmers in Haryana have made their displeasure clear over the past few days, with demonstrations in Fatehabad, Jhajjar, Hisar and Yamunanagar leading to clashes with the police.
The farmers have stressed that they will not allow members of Haryana’s ruling BJP-Jannayak Janata Party alliance to address any public events while their demands go unmet.
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar struck an ominous note last month as he warned farmers “it won’t be good for anyone to cross their limit”.
Farmers have been protesting the farm laws – which they say will leave them at the mercy of corporate interests, but the government insists will help them – since June last year.
Several rounds of talks have failed to break the deadlock.
A panel of union ministers met farmer leaders January 22, and there have been no talks since January 26, when a tractor rally in the national capital turned violent.
