Farmers Movement Archive

Fulfil farmers’ demands in 7 days: Hanuman Beniwal to Centre

ALWAR/JAIPUR: Nagaur MP and Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) leader Hanuman Beniwal, who was stopped at the Haryana border along with his supporters while he was heading towards Delhi on Saturday, said that “Had he been in Lok Sabha when the three farm bills were passed, he would have opposed it like Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), despite being an National Democratic Alliance (NDA) ally, and would have torn it into pieces”. “I am happy that till now the farmers' agitation has been very peaceful. There is no place for violence in a democracy. Even on Delhi-Jaipur Highway, the farmers should place their demands democratically in front of the Centre and maintain peace. The central government should accept the demands of the farmers without further delay,” tweeted Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot Beniwal, who sat at the border and protested, even threatened to leave the NDA and tender his resignation as a Lok Sabha member if farmers’ demands are not accepted (repealing of the three farm laws) by the central government within seven days. “I have spoken to the home minister (Amit Shah) and gave the Centre an ultimatum of seven days. If the farmers’ demands are not accepted within seven days, we will march towards Delhi with two lakh farmers from Rajasthan,” said Beniwal while briefing the mediapersons at the Haryana border. “I wasn’t present in Parliament when the farm bills were passed. False Covid positive reports were produced to deny me the chance to be a part of the proceedings (passage of the bills in Lok Sabha),” said Beniwal during a mahapanchayat at Kotputli in Jaipur. “RLP is the second NDA ally after SAD to oppose the farm bills and stand in support of farmers’ agitation,” he said. He also reiterated that the central government should implement the Swaminathan Commission report in toto. Meanwhile, the Delhi-Jaipur national highway (NH-8) was sealed at the Haryana border as thousands of farmers from Rajasthan headed towards Delhi. Meanwhile, the Alwar administration and police diverted the route for the vehicles travelling to Delhi via Behror-Tatarpur-Khairtal. Haryana police had sealed the border for one-and-a-half hours leading to a huge jam on the national highway. Beniwal, who was stopped at the border by Haryana police, sat at the border with his supporters for at least 1.5 hours. After he left the spot, the border was reopened for the movement of vehicles by Haryana police.

The Times of India

2020-12-13

Jaipur