Tension erupts as farmers at Ghazipur border told to vacate road immediately

Days after a section of farmers resorted to violence at the Red Fort in Delhi, protesters sitting at the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border in Ghazipur were told on Thursday evening (January 28) to end the stir and vacate the road.

“The Ghaziabad district administration has been told to clear the road by tonight, but we farmers won’t move,” said farmer leader Rakesh Tikait, adding, “I am willing to take a bullet, instead of running away.”

Tikait said he sees no reason for farmers to vacate the spot because there has been no violence on the Ghazipur border so far. “The Supreme Court too has recognized our peaceful protest, but the Uttar Pradesh government has adopted a repressive policy,” he added.

The Ghazipur border had been sealed since the farmer protests against the government’s controversial new Farm Laws began, on November 26.

Meanwhile, the Baghpat administration too got a protest site vacated in the Ghaziabad district on Thursday. Baghpat Additional District Magistrate Amit Kumar Singh said the police did not use any force. “The elderly people, including a mentally unsound person, were sent to their homes. The other protesters were asked to go at smaller protests in Mathura and Fatehpur,” he said.

The Baghpat administration said the action was taken following a request from the National Highways Authority of India over its pending construction work in the area.

On January 26, Republic Day, farmers took out a tractor rally that descended into chaos and violence and led to the death of one person.

Chaos was unleashed across Delhi as the protestors deviated from the designated route even as police tried to block their way. A group made its way to the Red Fort, in what they said was a message to the Centre.