Farmers protesting at Ghazipur border asked to vacate, end protest
Farmers protesting the newly-enacted farm laws in Ghazipur at the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border have been asked to vacate the roads and end their protest on Thursday. The Ghaziabad administration has issued the order as it plans to clear the roads occupied by protesters by tonight. The decision comes two days after the unprecedented violence during the farmers' tractor rally on Republic Day. Here's more.
Ultimatum given to protesters; heavy deployment of forces in Ghazipur
Farmers protesting at the Ghazipur protest site have been given an ultimatum by the Ghaziabad administration to clear the area. Reportedly, protesters will be evacuated forcefully if they don't vacate the protest site, where Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait is present, by tonight. While no action has been taken against them yet, there was heavy deployment of forces in the area.
Despite orders, protesting farmers refuse to budge
Despite the Ghaziabad administration's orders, protesters at Ghazipur have refused to budge, reported NDTV. Their leader Tikait said he's even ready to face arrest if required. "The Supreme Court has justified the peaceful sit-in. There has been no violence on the Ghazipur border. Despite this, the government is adopting a repressive policy. It is the face of the Uttar Pradesh government," he said.
Unprecedented violence, chaos ensued in national capital on January 26
To recall, the Ghazipur border had remained sealed since November-end when farmers launched protests against three central farm laws at different borders of Delhi. On Republic Day, however, farmers broke the barricades, went off the designated routes, and turned the tractor rally violent. Delhi witnessed unprecedented violence and chaos as farmers attacked cops, broke into the Red Fort, and even hoisted flags there.
Nearly 400 cops injured, one protester died during violence
As many as 33 First Information Reports (FIRs) have reportedly been registered by the police in connection with the Republic Day violence during the farmers' tractor rally in Delhi. The cops also detained around 200 protesters on charges of rioting, attacking the police personnel, and causing damage to public property. Nearly 400 police personnel were injured, and one protester died during the violence.
Farmers demanding repeal of three farm laws
Thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, among other states, have been protesting at different borders of Delhi since November 26 last year. They have been demanding the repeal of the three contentious farm laws passed by the Parliament back in September.
What are the three laws that farmers are protesting?
The three farm laws that the farmers are opposing include the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020. Their demands include repealing these laws and ensuring that minimum support price (MSP) for their crops is legally guaranteed, among others.
Baghpat administration got farmers vacated from protest site there
Meanwhile, authorities in Uttar Pradesh's Baghpat district vacated a protest site there on Wednesday night. While protesters alleged use of force, the police denied it, saying they resolved the matter through deliberations. "We did not use any force to remove the protesters. The elderly people, including a mentally unsound person, were sent to their homes," said Baghpat Additional District Magistrate Amit Kumar Singh.
Protesters asked to hold smaller demonstrations in Mathura, Fatehpur
Further, the Baghpat administration said that it removed protesters from the site after receiving a request from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), over its pending construction work in the area. Moreover, protesters were asked to hold smaller demonstrations in Mathura and Fatehpur, too.
