On Saturday, the Union Home Ministry temporarily suspended internet services in Singhu, Ghazipur, Tikri borders and their adjoining areas from 11 pm of January 29 to 11 pm of January 31 to ‘maintain public safety and averting public emergency’ amid the ongoing farmers’ protests.
The Home Ministry order stated, “It is necessary and expedient to order the temporary suspension of internet services in the areas of Singhu, Ghazipur and Tikri, and their adjoining areas in the NCT of Delhi from 11 pm on January 29 to 11 pm on January 31.” The order was passed using the powers under Rule 2(1) of the Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules, 2017.
Also See: Overview of the Farmers’ unions in the protests
Meanwhile, thousands of farmers from Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh marched towards the Ghazipur border to extend their support to the farmers and participate in a Kisan mahapanchayat. The Kisan mahapanchayat was called after the farmer-leader Rakesh Tikait had broken down on the night of January 28 which proved to be a turning point for the protests.
Both carriageways of NH-24, to and from Ghaziabad and Ghazipur border, have been closed, the Delhi Traffic Police said today.
On Friday, the Haryana government had suspended internet services in 14 districts till 5 pm on 30 January, taking the number of districts with internet shut down to 17.
Only voice calls will be allowed in the 14 districts including Ambala, Yamuna Nagar, Kurukshetra, Karnal, Kaithal, Panipat, Hisar, Jind, Rohtak, Bhiwani, Charkhi Dadri, Fatehabad, Rewari and Sirsa.
Also See: An overview of Farmers’ protests-role of Charan Singh
The Government of Haryana had also suspended internet services in Sonipat, Palwal and Jhajjar. The shutdown orders came in view of the ongoing farmers’ agitation in the national capital and adjoining areas.
The Yogi Adityanath administration had also temporarily cut off power and water supply to hundreds of farmers at the Ghazipur border, who have been camping out on the roads, as per reports. Later on the supplies were restored, and the Deputy CM of New Delhi had also visited the sites to examine the availability of the basic facilities of electricity, water and toilet for the protesters.
Tens of thousands of farmers protesting against the three farm-laws, known to be with many glaring loopholes, at the Delhi borders have spent the last several weeks demanding the repeal of the agricultural laws that they claim will leave them at the mercy of large corporate houses like Adani and Ambani.
