Manohar Lal Khattar blames Punjab for agri stir violence, Captain Amarinder Singh hits back

CHANDIGARH: Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar on Monday blamed Punjab for the violence involving farm protesters and police in

Karnal

two days ago, prompting his counterpart Capt Amarinder Singh to retort that the BJP-led government there and at the Centre would have to “pay for their sins”.


“Farmer leader (Balbir Singh) Rajewal is seen offering ladoos to the Punjab CM. You can imagine the nexus. I get inputs from time to time on the number of people from each state at the protest sites, and it has been established that 85% of those sitting at Tikri and

Singhu

(on the Delhi border) are from Punjab,”

Khattar

said, fuelling the battle of CMs playing out on the sidelines of the farm agitation.

Khattar’s remark, which coincided with his government’s celebration of 2,500 days in office, led Amarinder to advise BJP to pay heed to the cries of their “annadaatas” before it was too late. “A government or a political party that allows such tragic and totally avoidable loss of lives to continue under its watch cannot survive,” he said. “Can’t you see that the farmers of your own state are angry with you for your apathetic attitude towards them and your party’s stubborn refusal to repeal the farm laws?”

Khattar had claimed farmers from his state were “busy with their work” and “satisfied with the government”. Only those with political aspirations are giving wind to the agitation, he said. On Amarinder asking him to apologise to farmers or step down over the Karnal violence, Khattar said, “With what authority is he asking me to resign or apologise? Rather, he should resign for instigating farmers.”