Karnal standoff: Another round of talks to be held between farmers and district officials today

Chandigarh: Farm union leaders and the Karnal district administration will hold another round of talks Saturday, with both sides hoping for an early resolution of issues after a four-hour-long marathon meeting on Friday. Farmers had started a dharna outside the district headquarters in Karnal on Tuesday against the police lathicharge on 28 August. Their main demands centred around the suspension of then SDM Ayush Sinha, who was caught on tape allegedly telling policemen to “break heads” of farmers if they cross the line. They had also claimed that a farmer died after the August 28 violence, an allegation rejected by the administration. As the farmers’ sit-in outside the Karnal district headquarters entered its fourth day on Friday, both sides said the meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere. We held a discussion for four hours. Some positives have come out and another meeting will be held on Saturday, Karnal Deputy Commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav told.