Chandigarh:

In a robust response to an advisory issued by the Ministry of Dwelling Affairs within the wake of the farmer agitation, the Punjab authorities has mentioned it’s “utterly unsuitable” to say that the state is permitting protesters to collect on the borders. It has claimed that regardless of over 160 individuals being injured due to the usage of tear gasoline shells, rubber bullets, drones and bodily power by the Haryana Police, the Punjab authorities has maintained the legislation and order state of affairs “with accountability”. 

Following stories of over 14,000 individuals gathering alongside the Punjab-Haryana border with 1,200 tractor-trolleys and different autos forward of the resumption of the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march on Wednesday, the Ministry of Dwelling Affairs (MHA) had raised concern concerning the “deteriorating” law-and-order state of affairs in Punjab and requested the state authorities to take motion. 

Within the letter, written by Punjab Chief Secretary Anurag Verma on Wednesday, the state authorities has mentioned it has not obtained the orders handed by the Punjab and Haryana Excessive Court docket yesterday, by which it had requested the farmers to not use tractor-trolleys on the highway. The order has not been uploaded on the court docket’s web site both, it mentioned. 

Mr Verma identified that the farmers had been going to Delhi to protest and had been stopped on the border of Punjab and Haryana as a consequence of restrictions on motion. 

“Thus far, greater than 160 individuals have been injured by tear gasoline shells, rubber bullets, bodily power and drones utilized by the Haryana Police. Even after that, the Punjab authorities has maintained the legislation and order state of affairs with accountability,” the letter mentioned. 

Calling for displaying extra sympathy in direction of the farmers, the chief secretary mentioned that legislation and order ought to be dealt with in a extra delicate method throughout protests as a result of Punjab is a border state. 

The Punjab authorities additionally emphasised that it has performed an vital function within the negotiations, declaring that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had attended three of the 4 conferences between the Centre and the farmers. Mr Mann had despatched a Cupboard minister and high-ranking officers to the lone assembly that he couldn’t attend, the letter mentioned.

The secretary mentioned 2,000 policemen, together with DIG-rank IPS and Provincial Police Service officers from the Punjab Police are working to take care of peace and order. “We’re continuously monitoring the state of affairs and can take steps if vital,” he mentioned. 

Tear gasoline was used once more on the Shambhu border on Wednesday after farmers tried to march in direction of Delhi to press their calls for, together with a authorized assure for minimal help value. Dealing with off in opposition to the farmers, who’ve lined up with earth-moving machines, the Haryana Police has warned the farmers to face down.

Warning in opposition to “unruly components” making an attempt to “hijack talks”, Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda has invited farmers again to the negotiation desk for a fifth spherical of discussions and urged the protesters to stay peaceable.