Finally, farmers "welcomed" in Delhi, but with tear gas and water sprays
Protests erupted in Haryana’s Rohtak on Friday (November 27) after a farmer part of the “Dilli Chalo” died and two others were injured in a road accident. Farmer unions blamed the Haryana government.
Thousands of protesting farmers from Punjab and Haryana, struggling to enter Delhi for the last two days, were finally allowed in after a fresh clash with the Delhi police at the Haryana border. However, the police still released tear gas shells and sprayed water on farmers.
Protests erupted in Haryana’s Rohtak on Friday (November 27) after a farmer who was part of the ‘Dilli Chalo’ protests died and two others got injured in a road accident. Farmer unions blamed the Haryana government for the mishap.
Earlier in the day, the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha, comprising seven farmers’ organisations, wrote a letter to the Prime Minister asking for a site where farmers can assemble. Meanwhile, farmers opposed to new central farm laws had been trying to enter the capital from several points, at times attempting to break barricades and slip through barbed wire and trenches dug up near roads. After putting up a brave fight against the Haryana police on Thursday (November 27), the protesters faced Delhi police this morning on their way to Delhi.
Related News: Haryana police action on farmers ‘sad irony on Constitution Day’: Punjab CM
Responding to police’s tear gas attack, protesters were seen throwing stones as large groups pressed against barricades, waving flags and sticks.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government rejected Delhi Police’s request to turn nine stadiums in the city into makeshift “jails” to detain protesting farmers.
Traffic slowed to a crawl as vehicles were checked at border posts. Traffic to and in Delhi was diverted. Yesterday, there were huge jams on the highway between Gurgaon and Delhi.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh urged the farmers to end their agitation and has invited them for talks.
Speaking at the HT Leadership Summit 2020, Singh said, “I can say, as the son of a farmer, that the results will be visible in the next four to five years. There will be an increase in farmers’ earnings. I can say this with confidence because I have read every clause of the bills, the mandi (procurement system) will not end and will continue.”
Punjab, Haryana CMs in war of words
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh questioned Manohar Lal Khattar’s Haryana government over using “brute force” against the protesting farmers.
“Why is @mlkhattar govt in Haryana stopping the farmers from moving to Delhi? The tyrannical use of brute force against peacefully protesting farmers is totally undemocratic and unconstitutional,” Singh tweeted.
“Why is Haryana govt provoking them by resorting to force? Don’t the farmers have the right to pass peacefully through a public highway,” Singh asked.
Urge @BJP4India to direct their state governments not to indulge in such strong-arm tactics against the farmers. The hands that feed the nation deserve to be held, not pushed aside. pic.twitter.com/N7h2V1wrjr
— Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) November 26, 2020
Shortly after Singh lambasted him, Khattar sternly told the Punjab chief minister to stop “inciting innocent farmers”.
“@Capt Amarinder Ji, I’ve said it earlier and I’m saying it again, I’ll leave politics if there’ll be any trouble on the MSP — therefore, please stop inciting innocent farmers,” Khattar tweeted.
“I’ve been trying to reach out to you for the last 3 days but, sadly, you have decided to stay unreachable – is this how serious you are for farmers’ issues? You’re only tweeting and running away from talks, why?” Khattar asked in another tweet.
Launching a scathing attack on Singh, the Haryana chief minister told him, “Time for your lies, deception and propaganda is over — let the people see your real face.
“Please stop putting the lives of people in danger during the corona pandemic. I urge you not to play with the lives of the people – at least avoid cheap politics during the time of the pandemic,” Khattar told Singh.
Time for your Lies, Deception and Propaganda is over – let the people see your real face. Please stop putting the lives of people in danger during the Corona pandemic. I urge you to not play with the lives of the people – atleast avoid cheap politics during the time of pandemic.
— Manohar Lal (@mlkhattar) November 26, 2020
Responding to Khattar, Singh wrote, “Shocked at your response @mlkhattar ji. It’s the farmers who’ve to be convinced on MSP, not me. You should’ve tried to talk to them before their #DilliChalo. And if you think I’m inciting farmers then why are Haryana farmers also marching to Delhi?”
“As for endangering lives during #COVID19, have you forgotten that it was @BJP4India
led central govt that pushed through those #FarmLaws amid the pandemic, uncaring about the impact they’d have on our farmers? Why didn’t you speak out then @mlkhattar ji,” he added.
As for endangering lives during #COVID19, have you forgotten that it was @BJP4India led central govt that pushed through those #FarmLaws amid the pandemic, uncaring about the impact they’d have on our farmers? Why didn’t you speak out then @mlkhattar ji
— Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) November 26, 2020
#WATCH Delhi: Police use water cannon & tear gas shells to disperse protesting farmers at Tikri border near Delhi-Bahadurgarh highway.
Farmers are seen clashing with security forces, as they tried to head towards Delhi as part of their protest march against Centre’s Farm laws. pic.twitter.com/L67PN4xYKy
— ANI (@ANI) November 27, 2020
The farmers are demanding the repeal of the new laws passed by the Parliament in September that deregulate the sale of agriculture produce. They say the laws will lead to the dismantling of the minimum support price (MSP) system.
#WATCH Farmers use a tractor to remove a truck placed as a barricade to stop them from entering Delhi, at Tikri border near Delhi-Bahadurgarh highway pic.twitter.com/L65YLRlkBo
— ANI (@ANI) November 27, 2020
Farmers from six states, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Kerala and Punjab, are heading to Delhi and intend to converge at Ram Lila Maidan in the heart of the city for a protest planned for months. The farmers say 500 organisations are part of it.
(With inputs from PTI)
