India Tomorrow
NEW DELHI—Even as the Delhi police allowed agitating farmers to enter Delhi and stage a protest at Burari sports ground, the farmers from Punjab and Haryana are camping at border checkposts on Delhi Haryana border, insisting that they be allowed to stage a protest either at Jantar Mantar or the Ramlila Ground that could attract more attention. They have clearly refused to go to Burari and said that they would continue to occupy the road on Delhi-Haryana border if they were not permitted to go to Jantar Mantar or Ramlila Ground. However, over 200 farmers from Bijnor and other districts of Western Uttar Pradesh reached the Burari ground this morning.
Farm leaders say that more farmers from Western Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra were on their way to Delhi to protest the farm laws and two ordinances, including one that provides for Rs. 1 crore fine on farmers for burning farm stubble.
Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) leader Medha Patkar, who also joined the farmers in Delhi, said that the three farm legislations brought by the Modi government was imposed on the country as a whole. She said that while farmers and workers were facing a hell under the Modi government, corporates were being extended all kind of facilities.
Rajesh Tikait, President of the Bharatiya Kisan Union said that the farmers agitation would continue till the government withdrew the three farm laws and two ordinances, including one with heavy fine for burning stubble, were withdraw by the government. He said that farmers connected with his organization were reaching Delhi in large numbers.
Meanwhile, BJP Kisan Morcha president Rajkumar Chahar said that some political parties were misguiding the farmers for political purposes.
Farmers from Haryana, Punjab as also Western UP are coming to the National Capital in tractor-trolleys carrying food and essential supplies with them and entering Delhi from multiple points while the majority of them are blocking the national highways. As many as three national highways leading to Delhi were blocked till the writing of this news.
The government, farmers say, has dug up trenches near many important and also erected barbed wire to prevent farmers from entering Delhi. Yet, the farmers managed to enter the city from these points.
Farm leaders say that while the Delhi and Haryana police have opened the Tikri Border on Delhi-Bahadurgarh road, farmers were not allowed to enter Delhi from Singhu border near Narela. Farm leaders said that the situation was tense at Delhi-Sonepat border from where the Punjab and Haryana farmers were coming to enter Delhi. Tension is reported at Delhi-Haridwar border where the farmers have assembled to enter the National Capital.
Hundreds of farmers who have reached Burari on the outskirts of Delhi said they would not leave the venue only when the black agriculture laws are withdrawn.
While Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has declared to support the farmers demand and announced to provide all arrangements for their agitation in the city, many farmers at Burari complained that no toilet arrangement was made at Burari grounds.
Meanwhile, the Kejriwal government has rejected the demand of the Delhi police to allow using nine sport stadia in the city to be used as temporary jail to keep detained/ arrested farmers and their leaders.
Meanwhile, All India Kisan Sangarsh Ccoordination Committee said that “RSS-BJP government” of Haryana unleashed inhuman water cannoning in this bitter coled and tear-gassed farmers, but farmers showed exemplary courage and discipline in marching peacefully to Delhi. AIKSCC said that huge protests took place inn Hapur, Delhi-Moradabad Road, Sambha and Rampur in Western UP on Friday.
There are more than 200 farm organisations have given a call for “Dilli Chalo”of which AIKSCC is a constituent. AIKSS said they have grievances against the Central government for three anti-farm laws (which are pro-corporate and pro-MNC), the proposed Electricity Bill 2020 which are detrimental to the existence of farmers and their future. The farmers, AIKSCC said that they were also against the law imposing Rs. 1 crore fine on farmers or confiscating their agriculture properties for burning stubble.
Farm groups, including AIKSCC also condemned the Union Agriculture Minister’s assertion about talks with farmers on December 3. “Farmers are clear about their agenda which is for withdrawal of three farm laws and Electricity Bill 2020 as also huge penalty on burning of stubble”, AIKSCC said. “Question of talks is to befool the rest of the country”, AIKSCC said.
