Farmers Movement Archive

Kisan jam: Another front opens at Ghazipur

NEW DELHI/GHAZIABAD: Stopped thrice from entering Delhi, about 700 farmers protesting against the three agriculture laws passed by Parliament have decided to camp at UP Gate till December 3, when the second round of ministerial talks on the issue are scheduled. The farmers, who are protesting under the banner of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), also threatened to block the Loni border if the Centre did not take any decision on repealing the laws. The Bhim Army also lent its support for the farmers and its president, Chandrashekhar Azad, is also expected to join the protest later. On Saturday, too, farmers from several west UP districts had tried to cross over to Delhi but were stopped at the Ghazipur border. They then returned to UP Gate and launched a sit-in demonstration there. Sunday was no different. Nearly 700 farmers tried to enter Delhi three times after breaking the police barricades at Ghazipur but were stopped by the huge force that had been stationed there. Farmers in groups of 30-40 arrived at UP Gate around 9.30am and tried to climb on the barricades, but were sent back by a posse of Delhi Police. The protesters made the second attempt around 11am, but this time, too, they failed to cross into the capital. Around 3.15pm, a group of farmers shouting anti-government slogans made another unsuccessful attempt to enter Delhi. The farmers, many of whom had brought dry ration to cook meals, then announced they would camp at UP Gate until the Centre allowed them for talks. Rajvir Singh, vice-president of BKU in UP, said they would not budge until the issues were addressed. "If the government wants to talk with the farmers, why wait till December 3? Why not today?" asked Singh. "We only want a written assurance from the Modi government that the system of MSP will continue as earlier," he added. Farmer Guddu Pradhan had come from Bulandshahr along with 300 others on Saturday afternoon. "We have come prepared with food arrangements for a month because the government, which came to power with our support, is not hearing us now. We have been forced to hit the streets for our rights. We are waiting for directives from our leader. If required, we will break the barricades too," the farmer added. Pradhan also asserted the need for MSP. "Due to the lack of proper norms, sugarcane, rice, wheat and maize are being sold at half the price. This has caused huge losses for the farmers who have been unable to get genuine prices for their crop. They have not paid electricity bills and children's fees and are finding it hard to maintain the household expenses. This is why we are asking them to fix the MSP," he added.

The Times of India

2020-11-30

Delhi