Farmers Movement Archive

Farmers show black flags to UP BJP chief

BIJNOR: A group of farmers protesting against the controversial farm laws showed black flags to BJP state president Swatantra Dev during his visit to Bijnor on Monday. Protesters raised slogans against the ruling party too. Swatantra Dev was on his way to the Bijnor district headquarters from Dhampur town after attending a programme when protesters tried to stop his convoy and showed black flags near Rashidpur village located adjacent to Bijnor city. Police swung into action and dispersed farmers from the route of the convoy. Eight farmers were detained. Later, farmers led by RLD’s district president Rahul Singh staged a dharna here at the Bijnor city police station demanding immediate release of the farmers. The government is trying to crush the voice of the farmers, Singh said. Bijnor superintendent of police Dharamveer Singh said, “We had diverted the route of the convoy of the BJP state chief as we suspected that farmers might create a ruckus. Besides, we have detained eight persons for spoiling peace. Some farmers later staged a dharna here. We are now mulling what to do with them.” Earlier, addressing a gathering at Dhampur, party’s state president Swatantra Dev said, “There shouldn’t be stubbornness in any protest. In fact, growers are being misled in the name of protest. If there is any misconception, farmers should sit with the government and understand things. I am assuring them that the farmers will have no loss due to the new laws. MSP will stay and no mandi will lose its existence after the implementation of new laws.”

The Times of India

2021-03-23

Meerut