New Delhi | Thousands of Farmers marching towards Delhi on Tuesday were stopped by the Delhi Police by water cannon and Tear gas.
Part of the Kisan Kranti Padyatra around seventy thousand farmers were marching towards the national capital demanding loan waiver, subsidised electricity and fuel, pension for farmers above 60 and implementation of recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission.
The farmers who were marching towards Delhi by walking or on tractors from the neighbouring state of Uttar Prades were stopped by the police at the heavily-barricaded Delhi-UP border. Angered by the attempt of police to stop them from marching forward the farmers tried to break the barriers and raised slogans which led the police to use batons, tear gas shells and water to disperse them. This resulted in injuring several protesting farmers.
#WATCH Visuals from UP-Delhi border where farmers have been stopped during ‘Kisan Kranti Padyatra’. Police use water cannons to disperse protesters after protesters broke the barricades pic.twitter.com/9KUwKgvrwW
— ANI (@ANI) October 2, 2018
Responding to the attempt to stop the protestors from marching forwards the police officials said, “The farmers’ rally could disrupt traffic movement and create law and order problems. It’s our duty to maintain peace and avoid any inconvenience to the general public.”
Criticising the Union government for using force to stop the farmers, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said, “Why are they not being allowed to enter Delhi? This is wrong. We are with the farmers.” Samajwadi party leader Akhilesh Yadav supporting the farmer’s rally said,” This government has not fulfilled the promises it made to the farmers, so it is natural that farmers would protest. It is unfortunate and we fully support the farmers.”
Raju Shetty, leader of the Swabhimani Sattkar Sanghatana said while responding to the police using tear gas to stop farmers said, “Farmers aren’t terrorists or Naxals, they’re coming with demands. Don’t they have right to do that? Shivraj Chouhan’s government killed farmers in Mandsaur, today they’re about to lose Madhya Pradesh. Warning Modi Ji if injustice with farmers continue, he’ll lose Delhi.”
Farmers aren’t terrorists or naxals,they’re coming with demands.Don’t they have right to do that?SS Chouhan govt killed farmers in Mandsaur,today they’re about to lose MP.Warning Modi ji if injustice with farmers continue, he’ll lose Delhi: R Shetty, Swabhimani Sattkar Sanghatana pic.twitter.com/Jl35fCoxVZ
— ANI (@ANI) October 2, 2018
Naresh Tikait, president of the Bharatiya Kisan Union who organised the Kisan Kranti Padyatra said, “Why have we been stopped here? The rally was proceeding in a disciplined manner. If we don’t tell our government about our problems then whom do we tell? Do we go to Pakistan or Bangladesh?”
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Agriculture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat after the meeting of Farmer leader with Home Minister Rajnath Singh said, “Home Minister Rajnath Singh met the farmer’s leaders and discussed their demands and have reached an agreement on the majority of the issues. Farmers’ leaders, UP ministers Laxmi Narayan ji, Suresh Rana ji and I will go to meet farmers now.”
Home Minister Rajnath Singh met the farmer’s leaders and discussed their demands and have reached an agreement on the majority of the issues. Farmers’ leaders, UP ministers Laxmi Narayan ji, Suresh Rana ji & I will go to meet farmers now: MoS Agriculture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat pic.twitter.com/fZvdjMuhY8
— ANI (@ANI) October 2, 2018
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