Farmers Movement Archive

March turns into a sit-in as citizens run into police wall in Delhi

NEW DELHI: Perhaps the police presence to oversee the Citizens March for Farmers to Jantar Mantar on Wednesday was disproportionate to the number of protesters, but the low turnout in no way lessened the dismay of the participants at the fortification of the road space in Singhu and Ghazipur borders to deter the agitating farmers from reaching Delhi. While the march was called by left-wing student groups, sympathetic citizens also joined in. At 12.30pm, members of All India Students’ Association, Students’ Federation of India, National Students’ Union of India and Krantikari Yuva Sanghathan gathered at Barakhamba Road circle to march to Jantar Mantar. The organisations claimed that since colleges were only functioning online, students weren’t present in Delhi, accounting for the low turnout. When the protesters were about to begin their march, the Mandi House roundabout was barricaded and police asked them to disperse as they did not have the permission for the event. Engineering student Adira from Bihar was taken aback. “How can the cops stop us like this? I am a citizen of India and as a citizen, I can be here to support the protesting farmers,” the student said. Sasha Virk, a Delhiite who studies in California, USA, claimed to have expected police to stop the march. “Most of us are just students and are facing police armed with batons,” Virk said. “But I am an army officer's daughter and am not scared of the police. My father served this country and I know what is happening to the farmers is unconstitutional.” Many who came for the protest were concerned at the force being used to prevent the farmers’ protest, including the erection of concrete walls and installing of road spikes at the border crossings. Sanjeev Kumar, a tuition teacher, came with his family from Rohini for the march. Complaining that the police measures were creating “a sense of fear in citizens”, he said there was an attempt to defame and disrupt the farmers’ movement against the central farm laws. Satinder Singh, who wanted the organisers to avoid political party flags, said, “I have been regularly going to the Singhu and Ghazipur borders as well. Wherever there is a protest on the rights of farmers, I will go there.” Students Karan and Navjot also said they did not subscribe to any political ideology, but only wanted to support the farmers. The duo run a YouTube channel in which they “attempt to showcase facts about the farmers’ protest”. Navjot added, “As turbaned youths, the two of us are hearing negative comments from the public and police, which is a sad thing. But we are not scared and want the new farm laws repealed.” The sit-in by the protesters at the roundabout continued till the evening after many decided to stay put and raise slogans and give speeches against the farm laws. Kanwalpreet Kaur, head of Delhi AISA, declared that while the cops did not allow them permission to protest on Wednesday, “we will be back and will continue to express our dissent every week”.

The Times of India

2021-02-04

Delhi