Restrictions on large gathering as Priyanka Gandhi visits farmers' meet

The district administration of Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, has imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC ahead of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s visit to a kisan mahapanchayat (farmers’ gathering).

The Congress has extended support to protesting farmers who have demanded repeal of farm laws passed by Parliament in September.

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“Today I will be in Saharanpur to listen, understand, share my feelings with the farmers and support their struggle. The BJP government will have to withdraw the black agriculture law,” Priyanka tweeted on Wednesday morning (February 10).

The Congress leader, who is the party in-charge for Uttar Pradesh, is also expected to speak with farmers in Bijnor and Muzaffarnagar on February 13.

Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) of 1973 authorises the executive magistrate of any state or territory to issue an order to prohibit the assembly of four or more people in an area. According to the law, every member of such ‘unlawful assembly’ can be booked for engaging in rioting.

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Saharanpur District magistrate Akhilesh Singh said Section 144 has been imposed to keep an eye on the kisan mahapanchayat. “If any law is broken, we will take care of the matter as per law,” he told news agency ANI.

Prohibitory orders have been issued in Saharanpur till April 5 in view of upcoming festivities, the COVID-19 pandemic, law and order, and the possibility of violence by anti-social elements.