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A week prior to proposed Kranti Diwas, HSGMC asked authorities to resume talks with farmers

The standoff between agitating farmers and central government continues.  For nearly seven months, the farmers have been agitating against the farm laws at various borders of Delhi. Meanwhile, on Tuesday a team of ad-hoc Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC) asked chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar to take initiative for resumption of dialogue between Union minister and farmer leaders. This development comes within two days of Rakesh Tikait giving a call to intensify and bolster the farmers’ movement.

Also Read: Components of the Farm bills 2020- possible impacts on agriculture which is already under the insidious pressure of climate change

The delegation of elected and nominated members of the body (HSGMC) is headed by HSGMC president Baljit Singh Daduwal. It urged Khattar to make sincere efforts to resolve the issue.
While referring to response by the CM, Daduwal said, “The Haryana CM has assured us to take a sympathetic view of our request. He has said that issue of farming as well farmers are very close to his heart and he is always worried about them.”

Also See: Overview of the Farmers’ unions in the protests

Speaking to a national daily, Daduwal said, “No doubt, we are a religious body. But before that, we are all farmers and one of our members of executive is also part of agitation and is camping at Tikri. I too had been to Tikri and spent time there. I attended the bhogs of Akhand Path on June 7. I have seen the conditions in which farmers have been living. Hence, we took up this issue in our committee and passed the resolution to approach the CM.”

Daduwal further added, “We have a BJP government in the Centre as well as the state. Farmers are camping in Haryana only; hence Khattar would have been the best person to get the dialogue resumed.”

Also See: An overview of farmers’ protests- role of Charan Singh

 

Announcement of Kranti Diwas by SKM

Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) has taken a decision to observe ‘Hool Kranti Diwas’ on June 30 on all the border protest sites around Delhi. Farmers have claimed that their protest is being supported by villagers and khaps in local areas.

The SKM said that on June 30, members of tribal areas will be invited to the dharna sites.

SKM said in a statement, “We have extended our full support to the tribals of village Selagar situated on the border of Sukma and Bijapur districts. Those who are fighting against the government’s decision to set up CRPF camp in the area. This land is being taken without any referral/decision of the Gram Sabha.”

It further added, “Also condemn the police firing on tribals who protested on May 17 in which three tribals died on the spot, one injured pregnant individual died later, and 18 others were injured and 10 are still missing.”

SKM has also decided to continue its peaceful protest against the leaders belonging to BJP & Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) in Haryana.

Also Read: Three Ms of ongoing farmers’ movement- Mewat, Meo & Mahapanchayat- their Social & historical impacts

Call of Tikait

On Monday, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait rallied fellow farmers against the government. He asked them to “get ready with tractors” as he issued an ultimatum to the central government over the contentious farm-laws. Tikait posted from his official handle on Twitter, “This government is not going to agree. It needs treatment. Get ready with your tractors, we will have to intensify the movement to save our lands.” A day ago, the farmer leader had said that the centre should get over its ‘misconception’ that the farmers would go back from their protests because they would not.

Rakesh Tikait asked the farmers to unify under one cause. He said, “Either the farmers and the public will remain or this government. The voices of farmers cannot be subdued with false cases.”

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Tikait-Mamata meeting-Farmer-leaders met Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata

Today, Farmer-leaders led by Rakesh Tikait of Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) met West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, at Nabanna, Kolkata. Today’s meeting took place at the Secretariat between Rakesh Tikait and Mamata Banerjee.

The issue discussed in the meeting was about the three controversial central farm-laws and how to increase the farmers’ agricultural output. The farmer-leaders met to seek her support for the ongoing farmers’ agitation against the new agriculture laws and for a Minimum Support Price for farm produce.

Also See: Overview of the Farmers’ unions in the protests

Yudhvir Singh, general secretary of the BKU stated, “We want to congratulate Mamata Banerjee for her electoral victory and to elicit her support for the move to give farmers a fair MSP for their crops.”

Mr Singh said that he also wants to impress upon Ms Banerjee to come up with MSP for fruits, vegetables and milk products in West Bengal. He added that “this will serve as a model” elsewhere. Today’s Tikait-Mamata meeting points to the increasing significance of Mamata Banerjee in national political scenario after declaration of state election result on May 2.

Also Read: West Bengal is a tough battlefield for BJP-an overview from historical, cultural & economic standpoints

Absence of a specified MSP and glut in produce often leads to farmers suffering from extremely low prices. That results in huge losses, often leading to farmer suicides in many parts of the country.

Rakesh Tikait and other farmer-leaders have been leading the farmers’ movement on Delhi’s borders for nearly seven months against three laws passed by the Parliament. The farmers feel that the central farm-laws will commercialise agriculture without adequate protection to small farmers from exploitation by large retail chains and industry.

Also Read: Possibility of National front after SAD links with Shiv Sena and other parties from across India over Farmers’ protests

In the meeting, Rakesh Tikait requested CM Mamata Banarjee to write to the Centre. Apart from Yudhvir Singh and other prominent farmer-leaders, Yashwant Sinha was also present in the meeting.

Rakesh Tikait said that Mamata Banarjee has defeated BJP and could write to the Centre & help keep the farmers’ movement going on. She had earlier extended her support for the farmers. Farmer-leaders are expecting the same support once again to revive the movement. Today’s meeting at Nabanna was expected to deliberate the future of the Farm-laws. CM Banerjee’s support for the agitation which has drawn on the farmer community in rural north India, and from other states like TN, Kerala, Maharashtra, MP, & Rajasthan is being viewed as a potential booster which has been flagging in recent weeks, mainly due to second wave.

At a certain level, this meeting also signifies the growing importance of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the national politics, especially after her resounding victory in the state assembly election.

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‘No mandi is better than parliament’, commented Rakesh Tikait; need to gherao Bangaluru & hit barricades in Delhi

Darshan pal, Rakesh Tikait & Yaduvir Singh

A large protest rally with hundreds of farmers in participation came out on the streets of Bangaluru, evidently taking the fiery farmer’s protests way beyond the borders of the national capital. Farmer-leaders like Darshan Pal, Rakesh Tikait and Yaduvir Singh were present addressing the farmers who had participated in the protest rally. Tikait has been heavily campaigning against the farm-laws in places like Kolkata, Delhi, Bangaluru & Jaipur.

Addressing a gathering in Jaipur, Tikait stated, “They (Centre) have tried to divide us on the lines of caste and religion but they were unsuccessful. You would need to go to Delhi when asked and have to breach barricades again.”

Also See: Overview of the Farmers’ unions in the protests

The farmers led by Darshan Pal, & Rakesh Tikait under the banner of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) at the Vidhana Soudha Chalo rally gave the call for Karnataka Bandh on March 26 in protest against the contentious farm-laws. The leader of the SKM-Karnataka unit, Badagalpura Nagendra gave a call for support to the bandh. The call for the bandh was later escalated into a call for Bharat bandh on March 26.

BKU president Rakesh Tikait on Tuesday stated that farmers need to hit the barricades again in and around Delhi. In his vitriolic comment on government and specifically Modi, Tikait stated, “PM Modi said farmers can sell crops anywhere. We will prove it by selling at State Assemblies, and the Parliament. No mandi can be better than Parliament.”

Also See: An overview of farmers’ protests- role of Charan Singh

In this regard, from a rally at Shivmogga, Karnataka, Rakesh Tikait also gave a call to take out the farmer-protest rallies in as many cities as possible. He also called out to the farmers, specifically those from Karanataka to make a second Delhi in Bangaluru and to Gherao the Karnataka-capital from all sides.

Taking a jibe at the supporters of the farm-laws in GOI, Rakesh Tikait added, “If the police stops you, ask them to buy crops on MSP.” This comment was given by Tikait as the laws are visibly intended to allow the farmers to sell their produce anywhere, but many doubt that the laws will ultimately benefit the cronies of the current regime at the centre, at the expense of the farmers. Using the platform of farmers’ protests, Tikait also raised his voice against the privatization of the PSUs.

Also Read: Trouble haunting BJP-Farmers’ movement reaches Bengal

The farmers’ protests have shown tremendous resilience & various farmers groups gradually have technically gheraoed Delhi on major arterial roads connecting the city with neighbouring states. It would be foolish to imagine or assume that the farmers’ protests have eroded in intensity & enthusiasm, as the reality is exactly the opposite with the protests having gained foothold across states in India.

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Bharat Bandh-Farmers’ unions called for nationwide strike on March 26- some trade unions will also join the strike

India-farmers-protest

A nationwide strike has been called by the Farmers’ unions on March 26 when their ongoing protest at Delhi borders will complete four months. This is being planned to carry ahead the farmers’ protests against the contentious farm-laws. Announcing their future programmes protesting against the three farm-laws enacted by Parliament in 2020, the farmers’ unions said that some trade unions will also join them in their protest against fuel price hike on March 15.

Also See: Overview of the Farmers’ unions in the protests

The doubt over the involvement of fringe elements during the Red Fort violence, intending to malign the farmers’-movement has gained weight after the arrest of Deep Sidhu. It had sullied the image of the so-far peaceful protest by the farmers. Consequently, farmers’ unions are focussing more on spreading their message to other states through visits, mahapanchayats among others, instead of staying put only at Delhi borders.

On March 19, the farmers will observe “Mandi Bachao-Kheti Bachao” day, Buta Singh Burjgill, a prominent farmer-leader said.

The farmer-unions have also decided to celebrate ‘Shaheedi divas’ of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, the farmer leader said.

Youths from all parts of the country will join the farmers’ protests at Delhi borders on that day, Burjgill added.

Also Read: Aman Dabas & Krishnan Dabas with connections to BJP were among the group creating violence at the farmers’ protest site

Farmers from Punjab, Uttar Pradesh are coming to Singhu, Tikri, Ghazipur protest sites to continue the protests.  Meanwhile, farmer-union leaders are touring other states and some of the protesting farmers who have been at the protest-sites since November-December are going back to take care of crops.

Also See: An overview of farmers’ protests- role of Charan Singh

On February 26, the Confederation of All India Traders had called for a nationwide strike demanding a review of the provisions of the goods and services tax (GST) regime. Recently, the farmers observed the 100th day of their ongoing protest and said that the protests will go on unless the laws are repealed.

Farmer leader Buta Singh Burjgill said that farmers along with trade unions will protest the hike in fuel prices and privatisation of railways on March 15.

Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait said in Madhya Pradesh, “If needed, we, on lakhs of tractors, will reach Parliament to press for the repeal of the three black laws. 3,500 tractors entered Delhi on Republic Day. These were not hired tractors.”

Farmer-leaders have also said that copies of the new farm-laws will be burnt during ‘Holika Dahan’ on March 28.

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Agriculture minister speaks about resumption of talks with farmers after Tikait said that farmers would gherao parliament

Tomar-Tikait

GOI, cornered over confrontation with farmers, has been taken on a backfoot by the stance taken by the farmer-leaders like JS Dallewal, Balbir Singh Rajewal & especially Rakesh Tikait in the farmers’ protests. Tikait had stated that the farmers will gherao the parliament with many tractors, if the farm-laws are not repealed.

After farmer-union-leader Rakesh Tikait’s threat of a larger tractor rally, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar has reiterated that the Centre is ready to hold talks with the protesting farmer unions if they respond to its offer to suspend three contentious farm reform laws for an 18 month period.

Thousands of protesting farmers, mostly from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, have been camped at Delhi’s borders for almost three months, demanding the repeal of the Central farm-laws. Talks with the government broke down on January 22. During a tractor rally on January 26, a section of the farmers broke off from the rally route and engaged in violent clashes with the police.

On Tuesday, speaking at a mahapanchayat in Rajasthan’s Sikar district, the Bharatiya Kisan Union- leader Tikait warned that if the laws were not repealed, the call would be given to gherao Parliament with 40 lakh tractors.

Also See: An overview of farmers’ protests- role of Charan Singh

Asked about this threat on Wednesday, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said that the government was committed to the welfare of the farmers and was working to double their income. “The government has been holding discussions with farmers in a sensitive and sympathetic way. Even now, whenever they give their response (to the proposal), the government is always ready to hold talks,” he said, speaking on the sidelines of an event to mark the second anniversary of the PM KISAN income support scheme. But, many farmers had been complaining that they were not receiving PM-KISAN benefits.

Meanwhile, farmer-unions observed Daman Pratirodh Divas, or Anti-Repression Day, on Wednesday. The Samyukt Kisan Morcha, a joint platform of protesting unions, wrote to the President of India calling for “the unconditional release of innocent farmers imprisoned during the farmers’ agitation and the dismissal of false cases and notices”. The letter was also submitted by protesting farmers to district and tehsil authorities across the country.

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While farmer-leaders are driving ahead the protests, Hooda asked GOI to begin dialogue & talks

Various farmer-leaders like Balbir Singh Rajewal & Rakesh Tikait have continuously upped the ante in the farmers’ protests against GOI. While Rajewal had stated that Delhi police cops should be gheraoed if they come to arrest the farmers, Tikait recently at a mahapanchayat at Kharkhoda at Sonipat, Haryana stated that the movement will go on till the three farm laws are not repealed.

In a parallel development, on Monday, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Former Chief Minister of Haryana said that the Centre should take initiative and restart the dialogue with farmers protesting against the farm laws to find a solution to the issue.

GOI has held 11 rounds of negotiation with protesting unions, with last round of talks taking place  on January 22, and these have remained inconclusive with regard to rollback of the laws.

“The government should find a solution to this soon. The government should take the initiative and restart the process of dialogue and accept the demands of the farmers,” Hooda told reporters.

Farmers mostly from Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, have been protesting at Delhi’s borders since November 28 last year demanding rollback of the laws.

The three farm laws, enacted in September last year, have been projected by the government as major reforms in the agriculture sector that will remove middlemen and allow farmers to sell anywhere in the country.

However, the protesting farmers have expressed apprehension that the new laws would pave the way for eliminating the safety cushion of MSP and do away with the mandis, leaving them at the mercy of big corporates.

The Centre has repeatedly asserted that these mechanisms will remain.

Also See: An overview of farmers’ protests- role of Charan Singh

Meanwhile, Hooda was asked to comment on the Enforcement Directorate filing a chargesheet against him and some others, including four retired IAS officers, in a money-laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in the allocation of over a dozen industrial plots worth more than Rs 30 crore in the Panchkula area in 2013.

When asked to comment on allegations that the plots were allocated to his “acquaintances”, Hooda said that he had earlier also stated that “all this is politically motivated”.

“I have full faith in the judiciary; everything will be crystal clear,” he added.

Lashing out at the BJP-JJP government, Hooda claimed that the dispensation gave preference to the youth of other states in the Sub Divisional Officers’ recruitment in the electricity department.

He added, “On one hand, the government claims that it will give 75 percent reservation to Haryana residents in private jobs as well, but the government is employing a vast majority of people from other states in other recruitments, instead of local youth.”

Also Read: The unprecedented protests by farmers: Background, Unions, Loopholes in the laws & role of Charan Singh

“In the SDO recruitment, the government has given preference to the youth of other states, bypassing the youth of Haryana. A total of the 99 people have been selected for 90 general category posts, including nine on the waiting list. But out of these 99, only 22 are from Haryana,” Hooda claimed.

He alleged that the policies of the state government have led to job losses.

“The government is cancelling recruitments one after the other on various grounds. First the recruitment of Village Secretary, then PGT Sanskrit teacher and now TGT English has also been cancelled. Educated youths are suffering due to the irregularities of the government,” he said.

The leader of opposition also raised questions on the new sports policy of the government and said that the coalition government has completely destroyed the “Padak Lao, Pad Pao (win medals, get posts)” policy of the previous Congress government, which was appreciated by all.

“The new policy discriminates against paralympic medal winners. The appointment of para-olympians has been restricted to Group-B posts,” he said.

Also See: Overview of the Farmers’ unions in the protests

Hooda also lashed out at the coalition government in the state while alleging that unemployment was increasing and corruption was rampant in various spheres.

He also said that the state government was continuously increasing VAT rate on petrol-diesel to raise additional revenue and reminded that during Congress’ tenure, diesel was the cheapest in Haryana as the VAT rate on it was just 9.2 percent.

“Now, the VAT rate is almost double,” he said.

Referring to the Special Investigation Team constituted by the Haryana government to probe deaths due to spurious liquor, Hooda said that the SIT had submitted its report, but it was not being made public.

He added, “More than 40 people died after drinking spurious liquor in November last year and a big liquor scam was exposed in the state.”

“The SIT has submitted its investigation report to the government, but the government is not ready to make it public as many big names will be exposed,” he added.

Replying to a question, Hooda reiterated that the Congress will bring a no-confidence motion against this government in the forthcoming session of the state assembly.

He claimed that “voices of dissent” are being heard among the MLAs supporting the government.

“The no-confidence motion will let people know which MLA stands with the government and which MLA stands with farmers,” he added.

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Update on Farmers’ protests: Rakesh Tikait, in a show of strength warned of gaddi-wapas demand

In the middle of gaining international attention, the farmers’ protests took another turn. On Wednesday, in a show of strength by protesting farmers, Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait addressed a massive rally and warned the government that it could find it difficult to stay on in power if the new agri-marketing laws are not repealed.

Just before Tikait was to begin his speech at the ”mahapanchayat” in Kandela village, the makeshift stage on which the farmer leaders had gathered collapsed under their weight.

Nobody was reported hurt and Tikait went on to address the gathering. But the episode triggered a commotion and he and the event organizers had to repeatedly tell people to maintain calm.

Calling for a “wapsi” (withdrawal) of the new central laws, Tikait indirectly warned the government that it could lose its “gaddi” (power) if the agitation continues.

“We have so far talked about “bill wapsi” (repealing the farm laws). The government should listen carefully. What will you do if the youth call for “gaddi wapsi” (removal from power)?” he said.

He asked the Centre to repeal the three laws and frame a new one to assure continuation of the minimum support price (MSP) system.

The BKU leader from Uttar Pradesh has been camping at Ghazipur on the Delhi-UP border as part of a campaign by farmer unions against the central laws enacted in September.

Also Read: The unprecedented protests by farmers: Background, Unions, Loopholes in the laws & role of Charan Singh

Farmers, mainly from Punjab and Haryana, are also massed at Tikri and Singhu on the Delhi-Haryana border for two months. After violence on Republic Day, police barricaded these protest sites with cement barriers and spikes on the roads leading to them.

Criticizing the restrictions, Tikait said, “When the king is scared, he secures the fortress.”

He suggested that he would lay down on the nails embedded on the roads there so that others can cross them by stepping on him.

He said that the Centre must talk with the farmer-unions spearheading the agitation.

The”mahapanchayat” was attended by Haryana BKU chief Gurnam Singh Chaduni and BKU leader from Punjab, Balbir Singh Rajewal. Over 50 “khap” leaders were also present.

Last week, a large number of farmers participated in a mahapanchayat in UP’s Muzaffarnagar in support of the BKU-led protest at Ghazipur.

Jind is often considered a part of Haryana”s political heartland and the ”mahapanchayat” was meant to muster support for the farmers’ agitation. It was organized by Sarva Jatiya Kandela Khap headed by Tekram Kandela.

Five resolutions were passed at the “mahapanchayat”. These urged the government to repeal the new laws, give a legal guarantee on the MSP, implement the Swaminathan Commission report, waive farm loans and release farmers arrested after the events in Delhi on January 26.

Tikait said that the campaign against the farm-laws was going strong, further adding, “The way we are getting support from khap panchayats, we will win this fight.”

He urged everyone involved, particularly the youth, to keep protesting in a peaceful manner and assured victory will be theirs.

He underlined the role played by farmers and their unions from Punjab. “We need their help. Haryana and Uttar Pradesh will back them. We will maintain the prestige of the farmers’ turban,” he said.

Seeking to project unity among the farmer unions, Tikait referred to BKU (Rajewal) chief Balbir Singh Rajewal as “our leader”.

Tikait, whose show of emotion recently appeared to have helped revive the farmers’ agitation after the violence on Republic Day, said that there are 40 unions spearheading the protest and decisions will be taken collectively.

Rajewal accused the Modi government of behaving with farmers in a manner that “no other government in the world” would.

“Centre brought laws which will destroy farmers and this country. We began this agitation several months back in Punjab, it has now spread to entire country,” he told the “mahapanchayat”.

On the new police barricades, Rajewal said that the government has turned protest-sites into a kind of “open jails”.

Khap leader Kandela said that the prime minister and the Union home minister should talk directly with the protesting farmers.

(Source: FE)

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Rakesh Tikait announced that the farmer unions are ready to hold ground for months- Chakka Jam on February 06

Rakesh Tikait & farmers

Bhartiya Kisan Union national spokesperson Rakesh Tikait hardened his stand on the farmer-protests and announced that the farmer-unions are prepared to sit out for many more months.

Tikait was reacting to the heavy barricading with concretes, spikes & wires besides deployment of Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) and Rapid Action Force (RAF) that has encircled all major protest sites, including Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur.

Also See: Overview of the Farmers’ unions in the protests

Tikait stated, “These wires have come up to stop the ‘kisan’ from his ‘roti’. Tomorrow, our cultivation will be behind the same wires to help the corporates. This is a fortification done on behalf of the King. I want to say from this stage that our call remains the same. ‘Bill wapsi to ghar wapsi’; pplease make preparations to stay here till October.” The BKU leader also clarified that Singhu remained the main centre of the protest.

“There is a lot of speculation. People are saying that Ghazipur is the main centre now,” Tikait said addressing the crowd.

He further added, “It is all false. We are part of the 40-odd farm unions. Singhu was the main centre and remains the main centre. We all are in this together and I lean on everybody, including Joginder Singh Ugrahanji, for counsel.”

Also See: An overview of Farmers’ protests-role of Charan Singh

Farmer union leaders have also announced a nationwide ‘chakka jam’ for three hours on February 6, calling for the blockade of state and national highways to protest against the suspension of internet and heavy barricading at agitation spots and to push for their demands on the repeal of three farm laws passed by Centre in September. Balbir Singh Rajewal, farmer-leader of SKM, had said that the meeting among the farmer-leaders involved discussion on arrest and harassment of young farmers by police.

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KisanMorcha at Naujheel area of Mathura- RLP & SP leaders also reached the site

The farmer-movement has intensified after the empathic emotional statement of Rakesh Tikait, a prominent leader of Farmers’ Union at Ghazipur border in Delhi. In this episode, farmers’ mahapanchayat was held on Saturday in Naujheel area of Mathura district. Thousands of farmers participated in it. Major leaders of RLD and SP also reached the Mahapanchayat.

Such Mahapanchayats are generally being organized at various places with regards to the peasant movement.

Also See: Overview of the Farmers’ unions in the protests

After the video of farmer-leader Rakesh Tikait getting emotional went viral, Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Chaudhary Ajit Singh and his son RLD vice-president Jayant Chaudhary announced their open support to the peasant movement. SP leaders, including Jayant Chaudhary, also attended the Kisan Mahapanchayat organized in Mathura’s Naujheel.

On the call of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Tikait), the Kisan Mahapanchayat took place in the grounds of Morki Inter College, located in Naujheel region. Thousands of farmers gathered from all over the district. According to the information, a strategy has been made for the ongoing peasant movementunder the leadership of farmer leader Rakesh Tikait at Ghazipur border in Kisan Mahapanchayat held in the grounds of Morki Inter College.

Also See: An overview of Farmers’ protests-role of Charan Singh

Samajwadi Party (SP) leader and MLC Dr. Sanjay Lather, former District Panchayat President Chetan Malik, Bhakiyu District President Rajkumar Tomar, RLD leader Yogesh Nauwar, Bhakiyu’s state, along with RLD’s national vice-president Jayant Chaudhary as the keynote speaker at the Kisan Mahapanchayat, Vice President Budha Singh Pradhan, former MLA Thakur Tejpal Singh and others joined in the Mahapanchayat.During the farmers’ protests, especially after Republic day, the security has been beefed up on the Yamuna Expressway since Friday. Police and PAC jawans have been deployed on four cuts, including the Mont toll on the expressway, so that traffic on the expressway is not blocked. The DM and SSP have also appealed to the farmers to cooperate.

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At UP gate, the farmers’ leaders assert that the rioters were outsiders

Farmers-protest

At UP Gate, Farmers’ leaders, spearheading the protests, have distanced themselves from incidents of violence reported on Republic Day in Delhi, claiming that the people who indulged in these incidents were “outsiders”. They said that the protests will continue as usual at the sites.

Rakesh Tikait, farmer leader and national spokesperson of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), said that the people who indulged in violence were “trying to sabotage” the protest. He arrived at UP Gate at around 3pm after his tractor rally.

“It is not in my knowledge if any flag was put up at the Red Fort. I will enquire if such a thing has happened. We suspect that there were some outsiders who got into our rally and were not obeying our repeated requests. They were trying to sabotage our protest. However, our tractor rally went on well and our protest will continue at the UP Gate site,” he said.

“Many of the protesters who had come to attend the rally have gone home while others will stay on at UP Gate and carry on our protest,” he added.

Also See: Overview of the Farmers’ unions in the protests

On Tuesday evening, the protesters brought in the body of the 25-year-old man who was killed allegedly due to an accident his tractor met with near ITO in Delhi.

Rajkishor Singh, one of the spokespersons for the UP Gate farmers’ committee, said that the man, identified as Ravneet Singh, had gone to Delhi in his tractor.

“His body was brought to UP Gate and will be handed over to his family. He was from Bilaspur in Rampur district,” he added.

Police personnel at the site in Delhi said that the man was allegedly driving the tractor rashly before the vehicle rammed into a barricade and overturned. The farmers, meanwhile, claimed that the man sustained a hit on his head allegedly by a teargas shell, as a result of which he died, but they refused to go ahead for an autopsy.

Also See: An overview of Farmers’ protests-role of Charan Singh

On Tuesday morning, some of the farmer-leaders stood at UP Gate till 11am while many of the protestors, including those upon tractors, broke open the barricades at the border and entered the national Capital.

“Those who created a ruckus with tractors and indulged in violence were quick in their actions and their body language revealed their intentions, and the fact that they could not be farmers,” BKU’s national press co-ordinator Shamsher Rana said in a statement issued on Tuesday night.

“We will continue our protest till the three laws are repealed. I have never seen such a big protest in my life and the government will be impacted by this agitation. From now on, they will think 100 times before taking any decision,” said 69-year-old Shankar Singh, who joined the protest from Iglas in Aligarh and took part in the 24-hour relay fast at UP Gate.

For the tractor rally, officials of the Ghaziabad administration as well as the Uttar Pradesh police had held several rounds of talks with farmers’ leaders during the past couple of days. Even the local intelligence wing from Ghaziabad was active on a day-to-day basis.

“The Delhi Police issued their press release about the route and plan and we also received communication on Monday. There is no intelligence failure on the part of Uttar Pradesh; besides, there has been no law and order issue in our area and many farmers have returned,” said Kalanidhi Naithani, senior superintendent of police, Ghaziabad.

Also Read: Components of the farm-laws: impacts on the agriculture & farmers

After incidents of violence in Delhi came to light, hundreds of tractors that were part of the rally made a hasty retreat as many returned to the UP Gate protest site, while others took to the Delhi-Meerut Road and NH-9 to rush to their hometowns.

Officials of the traffic police said that tractors followed the designated rally route in Ghaziabad. The officials, however, said that they did not have figures for the number of tractors which entered the district on Tuesday and added that the figures were not readily available.

“Many of them entered the Ghaziabad district from Apsara border side and went to Hapur road, and took up the designated route to UP Gate. In wake of the situation, we have our traffic personnel deployed. The Delhi Police have barricaded four of our border points including the one at Kaushambi and Surya Nagar,” said Ramanand Kushwaha, superintendent of police, Ghaziabad (rural).