Farmers Movement Archive

Don’t need Delhi Police permit for Republic Day rally: Farmer leaders

GHAZIABAD: Farmer leaders on Tuesday said they will not need Delhi Police’s permission to take out the rally planned on Republic Day. They also said they are not going to attend any meeting called by the Supreme Court-appointed committee to discuss the farm laws. “Both farmers and the government have agreed that a solution will come only through talks. We don’t know when it will happen. But we are not going to meet the SC-appointed committee. The government brought this bill through an ordinance and passed it in the house. It will go back the same way,” Bharatiya Kisan Union national spokesperson Rakesh Tikait said. He added: “Delhi Police should welcome us and do their duty. They should make proper arrangements along the route for the tractor rally on Republic Day. We don’t need any permission for the rally.” Asked about the National Investigation Agency’s action against traders and supporters of farmers, Tikait said a protest will be held against the agency as well. In the past two days, two Bollywood actors have visited the protest site at UP Gate. On Monday night, actor Sushant Singh met protesters at the border. “If the farmers are not happy with the laws, it means the laws are not good. I am from Bijnor and I come from a farmer family. Everyone has freedom of speech and if some people are saying negative things about farmers, then they have the full right to so. At the same time, the farmers, who are protesting peacefully, also have the right to raise their demands. It is sad that no result has come out and the farmers are protesting for over 50 days. Many have lost their lives, which is quite painful,” he said. Actor Gul Panag visited the protest site on Tuesday afternoon. “This protest has been going on for so long in this biting cold. The government should listen to them and with good intention. Now, it is up to the government to show how it will build trust,” she said. On Tuesday, four Punjabi singers performed at UP Gate. The performance started around 2 pm with Galav Waraich setting the tempo. Harf Cheema, Kanwar Grewal and Sonia Mann also performed at the protest site.

The Times of India

2021-01-20

Ghaziabad