Farmers Movement Archive

Delhi cops refuse permission for farm protest near Parliament

NEW DELHI: Even as a Delhi Police team met a delegation of farmers near the Singhu border, anti-riot drills were carried out in the city, including Red Fort, ahead of farmers’ planned protest near Parliament during the monsoon session to demand repeal of the three new farm laws. During talks, police refused to permit any gathering at the Jantar Mantar or Parliament on July 22, or on any other day. Cops ask Metro for extra vigil at 7 stationsPolice cited the violence during the January 26 farmers’ tractor march as one of the reasons for refusing permission, besides the Covid-19 scare and security implications of the planned protest. No consensus was reached at the meeting and a second round of talks is likely on Monday afternoon. Meanwhile, Delhi Police also wrote to Delhi Metro to keep extra vigil at seven metro stations and close them if needed at short notice, in view of the farmers’ protest near Parliament from Monday. The police urged DMRC to close Janpath, Lok Kalyan Marg, Patel Chowk, Rajiv Chowk, Central Secretariat, Mandi House and Udyog Bhawan stations on Monday onwards if required. This is the second time that protesting farmers are planning such a protest in the heart of Delhi. Earlier on January 26, the farmers had carried out a tractor rally which ended in clashes with police personnel as some agitators deviated from the mutually-agreed routes and went to Red Fort, where they unfurled a religious flag atop the historic monument. The incident had resulted in injuries to over 500 policemen. Regarding the drills, cops said that they were being conducted in the wake of farmers’ protest as well as the upcoming Independence Day celebrations. Multiple police teams carried out simulated scenarios to test their preparedness. The farmer leaders told reporters after the meeting that the police had offered them an alternative site for the demonstration and asked the unions to reduce the number of protesters, but they had declined. Farmer unions are planning to intensify their nearly eight-month-long stir by sending a 200-strong team of protestors to agitate at the Parliament house. They are supposed to march from Singhu border to Parliament but there are plans afoot to use buses as well, a senior police officer said. Like last time, farmer leaders have said the participating protesters will be given identification cards and a list of names and the route will be shared. News agency ANI quoted a statement from the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) stating that a ninemember coordination committee of SKM met with the Joint Commissioner of Delhi Police on Sunday. “The Delhi Police was assured that the farmers' movement has no plans of laying siege to Parliament or forcibly entering it. Meanwhile, preparations for parliamentary protests are in full swing in SKM contingents. Around 200-350 farmers from different states will hold protests on each working day of Parliament,” SKM was quoted as saying.

The Times of India

2021-07-19

Delhi