SunstarTV Bureau: Delhi govt officials reach Nirankari Samagam Ground, Burari to review arrangements for farmers’ ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest.
Clouds of smoke were seen at Haryana-Delhi Singhu border as security personnel used tear gas to repress farmers’ march to Delhi, protesting three farm laws enacted by the central government recently.
Delhi govt officials reach Nirankari Samagam Ground, Burari to review arrangements for farmers’ ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest.
“We’ve come here to deploy water tankers for farmers. AAP govt stands by farmers. Arvind Kejriwal-led govt will take care of them,” says Raghav Chaddha, AAP pic.twitter.com/2NRkygrc3V
— ANI (@ANI) November 27, 2020
The road from Punjab to Delhi echoed with ‘Chalo Delhi’ slogans. Farmers came equipped with all the essential utensils to continue the demonstration for two days.
The Farmer’s Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 were passed by the Upper House in September through voice vote despite objection from opposition parties.
The farmers however believe that the new laws will take away their guaranteed minimum price and leave them at the mercy of big retailers.
The government, on other hand, says the bills bring in much-needed reforms in the sector and empower farmers by allowing them to sell their grain anywhere in the country.
The Delhi Police had sought permission from Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s government to convert nine stadiums into temporary prisons, to capture the farmers but the request was turned down.
Mr Kejriwal has backed the farmers’ protest, saying that peaceful protest is a Constitutional right and the use of water cannons against them was a crime.
Besides the tear gas, security personnel, dressed in all protective gear, were seen marching towards the crowd, who also braved water cannons and lathi charge as they attempted to march to the national capital to put pressure on the Central government to get the law repealed.
“We have loaded food material for months and cooking utensils in our trolleys. We’re all headed towards Delhi now,” one of the protesting farmers said. Another protestor said, “We are approaching Delhi peacefully. They are trying to stop us by using tear gas and water cannons. We are the farmers of Punjab, we provide food grains to the people of the country. We are going to get our rights.”
Farmers claim that there protest will be peaceful and that no harm will be done to any person or property.
“Whatever we do will be peaceful. We will not harm any person or property. Even if we have to stay for a month, we will. Even if we will have to attain martyrdom, we will,” said one of the farmers.
“Police personnel are trying to maintain the law and order. Police were deployed here. But due to the large strength of the farmers, they surpassed the barricade from here and moved ahead towards Delhi. We have several other barricades in Sirsa,” said SDM, Kalanwali
“We’ve come here to deploy water tankers for farmers. AAP govt stands by farmers. Arvind Kejriwal-led govt will take care of them,” says Raghav Chaddha.
(Source ANI)
