Farmers Movement Archive

Govt. conspiracy led to violence, say farmers

Mr. Rajewal also alleged that Mr. Sidhu, who has been linked to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and associated with Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was the person who instigated the flag hoisting at the Red Fort. “It was a historic parade by lakhs of farmers with more than 2 lakh tractors, and 99.9% of the farmers stayed peaceful,” Mr. Rajewal said at a press conference of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, the joint front of protesting farm unions, at the Singhu border on Wednesday night. Delhi Police Commissioner S.N. Srivastava said the unions had not followed the terms laid down for the parades, alleging that the farmer leaders made inflammatory speeches and were involved in the violence that left 394 personnel injured. He added that a Special Investigation Team was being set up which will question all culprits, including farm unions. Swaraj Abhiyan leader Yogendra Yadav asked how the police had not been able to control protesters before they entered a national monument. “The question must be asked — who let them in, who opened the gate? We must remember that the Red Fort is guarded not just by the police but by the armed forces as well,” said Mr. Yadav, who was also named in the FIR, although he has not been part of the farmers’ delegation during the negotiations. “It is very clear that the government was very worried by our agitation, which has been carried out peacefully for months,” said Shiv Kumar Kakkaji of the Rashtriya Kisan Mahasangh. He said the government conspiracy had specifically targeted Punjabi farmers, adding that this attempt to separate the Punjab unions from the wider movement would fail. “This was a deep rooted conspiracy to knock down the peaceful and strong farmers’ struggle,” an SKM statement said. “The farmers’ organisations resolved to continue this agitation and harshly condemned the government and its administration, the said farmers’ organisation and anti-social elements, who tried to damage the peaceful farmers struggle.”

The Hindu

2021-01-28

January 28 2021 00:00 IST