First Ever Sedation Charges Against Farmers

A sedation case has been slapped on a group of protesting farmers in the ongoing agitation against three controversial farm laws passed by the Centre last year. It took place despite the Supreme Court on Wednesday questioning the validity of the British-era sedition law and why it was still used to slap charges.

But Haryana cops went on to charge 100 plus farmers with sedition after they allegedly attacked and vandalized the official vehicle of Deputy Speaker Ranbir Gangwa during a protest. The incident happened on the 11th of this month and an FIR was filed today in Haryana’s Sirsa district. It did not end with sedition alone.

The FIR also charges farmers with ‘attempt to murder’ and two leaders of the farmers’ movement – Harcharan Singh and Prahlad Singh – were among those named in the FIR. One of the protesting groups, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha rubbished the charges by calling them silly and made up.

The protest on the 11th includes fighting against the new farm laws as well as against leaders of the state’s ruling BJP-Jannayak Janata Party alliance in which Gangwa’s car was left vandalised. More than 100 more farmers were booked under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including 124-A for sedition and 307 for an attempt to murder.

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had alleged that those opposing the farm laws are only doing so due to political reasons. The attack has been slammed by Haryana Cabinet minister Anil Vij, saying such a violent agitation cannot be allowed to continue in a democratic country.

Ever since last year, this is the first case of sedition that has been slapped on agitating farmers protesting on the border of New Delhi. Their motive is to revoke three farm laws passed by the Centre.