Haryana Bharatiya Kisan Union chief Gurnam Singh Chaduni on Saturday appealed to farmers and their supporters protesting the Centre's contentious farm laws not to oppose ministers or political leaders at Republic Day events in the state. He, however, said farmers will continue opposing state ministers at rallies and events on other days.

"I would like to request that in Haryana if any minister or political leader comes to an event to unfurl the national flag on the occasion (of Republic Day), we don't have to oppose them," Chaduni said in a video message.  Disruption of any kind of a Republic Day function "will send out a wrong message", he said.  Farmers will continue to oppose Haryana ministers if they hold rallies and functions on other days in the state, he added.

Earlier this month, protesting farmers had vandalised the venue of a "Kisan Mahapanchayat" in Karnal where Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar was to address people to highlight the benefits of the Centre''s three farm laws.  Last month, a group of protesting farmers had shown black flags to Khattar when his convoy was passing through Ambala city.          

Khattar and state ministers will be unfurling the national flag at various events across the state on January 26.  Khattar will unfurl the national flag in Panipat while Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala will unfurl the tricolour at a function in Ambala. Education Minister Kanwar Pal will hoist the flag in Gurgaon and Transport Minister Mool Chand Sharma in Rewari.