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Don't consider use of tear gas, water cannons 'force': Haryana CM

YB WEB DESK. Dated: 11/30/2020 2:29:26 PM

New Delhi, Nov 29 Amid the ongoing feud between the chief ministers of two states over the farmers' agitation, Haryana CM Manohar Lal said on Sunday that he does not consider the use of tear gas or water cannons as 'force'. The remarks were targeted at Punjab CM Amarinder Singh and his scathing criticism of Manohar Lal. Interacting with media outlets on Sunday, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal said, "The language he [Amarinder Singh] used does not suit a CM. We had decided that gatherings will not be allowed due to corona. I wonder why government of Punjab allowed the protest during this time." "I do not consider using tear gas and water cannon as using force," the Haryana CM added while referring to visuals from Kurukshetra, Ambala, Hisar and Sonepat where water cannons were used to disperse protesting farmers marching to Delhi. Security forces also used tear gas at the Singhu border in Delhi and Haryana's Ambala to stop farmers from entering the national capital. Punjab CM Amarinder Singh targeted Manohar Lal over the Haryana government's measures to slow down or halt the farmers' protest march. Singh said on Sunday, "If he [Haryana CM] was so concerned about farmers spreading coronavirus in Haryana, whose track record in the pandemic remains extremely poor, he should not have stopped them within the state, but should have allowed them to move quickly to Delhi." This was the latest in a series of exchanges between chief ministers of the two neighbouring states.