Farmers Movement Archive

Over 100 farmer leaders under ‘house arrest’ in Agra region

AGRA: To prevent farmers from travelling to Delhi for the Republic Day tractor parade, more than 100 farmer leaders have been allegedly put under "house arrest" in Agra region on Sunday. Strict checks of vehicles at district borders are being conducted by police and tractors are being stopped from proceeding towards Delhi. Farmers alleged that fuel stations have been "instructed not to give diesel to tractors". After being stopped by police at several places on Sunday, farmers briefly blocked the Agra-Bareilly highway in Etah district. In Mathura, farmers blocked the Yamuna expressway for around 30 minutes resulting in long queues of vehicles. At Chilla border, Yogesh Pratap Singh, state president of Bharatiya Kisan Union (Bhanu), said, “Thousands of our workers were scheduled to reach Chilla border by Sunday evening from Agra region. On orders of the state government, our senior workers have been put under house arrest. Those who had managed to leave their houses with their tractors were stopped. We will not tolerate this kind of behaviour of the UP government." Singh added, "If our workers are not allowed to move to Delhi, we will stage protest and block roads during the CM Yogi Adiyanath’s visit to Noida on Monday." District president of Bharatiya Kisan Union (Tikait), Rajveer Lawaniya, who had planned to leave for Ghazipur border with 20 tractors and 200 farmers on Sunday morning, was allegedly stopped by the police outside his residence. “Police will not be able to stop hundreds of farmers from Agra to reach Delhi border. In case police don't allow us to take tractors, we will go by private vehicles or board buses. Farmers from Agra will mark their strong presence in Delhi on January 26. The Centre will have to withdraw the three farm laws and give us guarantee on MSP," Lawaniya said. Shyam Singh Chahar, one of the detained farm leaders, said, “I have been put under house arrest. I'm not being allowed to step out and meet farmers. Police will not be able to stop this mass movement of farmers from the Agra region." Inspector general of police A Satish Ganesh told TOI, “We do not want any law and order situation here. We are appealing to farmers to abstain from moving towards Delhi. Preventive measures are being taken to ensure peace and public convenience." Meanwhile, farmers in large numbers have been travelling from Bijnor carrying essential supplies and the National Flag. Many women also left Bijnor for Delhi. Villagers have collected grains for farmers camping at Gazipur border. In fact, peasants from Nangal Jat, Haldaur, Kambhaur, Salmabad, Padarathpur and Shahwazpur, under the banner of BKU and Rashtriya Kisan Majdoor Sangathan, proceeded towards Delhi on Sunday. Ramveer Singh, a farmer from Padarathpur village, said, "We have collected foodgrains for our brothers who are camping at Gazipur border. We are using village roads for our journey as police are stopping us on the highways. We will reach Ghazipur border at any cost." Nigam Chaudhary, another agitating farmer, said, "We along with our children have reached the Ghazipur border on Sunday. We are with the farming fraternity. Time has come for the people of our country to witness history." (with inputs from Harveer Singh)

The Times of India

2021-01-25

Agra