Farmers in Haryana vows to protect Muslim community amid violence threat

Hisar: In a bid to thwart communal violence in Haryana, farmer leaders and khap panchayats convened in Hisar's Baas village to pledge their commitment to protecting the members of the Muslim community.

The meeting, attended by nearly 2,000 farmers, including Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs, marked a significant step towards unity in the aftermath of recent violence in the Nuh district.

Farmer leader Suresh Koth, who played a pivotal role in the farmers' protest against the three farm laws, asserted that the Muslim community was under their safeguard. He urged the meeting to take responsible for the protection of Muslims and ensure no one touches the community. He was responding to the threat to the Muslim community in the wake of the communal violence in the Gurugram and Nuh.

Koth's message resonated with his assertion that all khap panchayats shoulder the responsibility of ensuring the protection of minority communities. He dispelled rumours of entry bans for Muslims in certain villages, emphasizing that such reports were false.

The farmer panchayat also saw participants take a solemn pledge against participating in caste or communal violence. They pledged to work actively towards restoring peace in the strife-torn Nuh district. A demand for accountability was raised, urging action against those who incited violence through social media.

The farmers' unifying spirit was also showcased during their protest at the Khatkar Kalan toll plaza, where they celebrated festivals from various religions and even conducted prayers together, as exemplified by the Eid-ul-Fitr observance in 2021.

In their pursuit of maintaining communal harmony, local farmer leaders recently organized events in Jind town, highlighting slogans of "Hindu-Muslim-Sikh, Issai." A Sarv Dharam Sammelan (Interfaith Gathering) held in Jind's Uchana town further reinforced their commitment to fostering unity across faiths.