Farmers Allowed to Protest in Delhi, Centre Says ‘Ready For Talks’
Farmers have entered the national capital through the Tikri border.
Thousands of farmers from Punjab and Haryana overcame tear gas, water cannons and police barricades for a second day on Friday, 26 November, to enter Delhi through the Tikri border.
The farmers, who are protesting against Centre’s new farm laws, were given permission to hold their demonstrations at the Nirankari Samagam Ground in the Burari area.
Meanwhile, union agricultural minister Narendra Singh Tomar and Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said “the Central government is always ready for talks.” The Centre has asked the farmers to meet on 3 December.
- Punjab CM Amarinder Singh, in a tweet, welcomed the Centre’s decision to allow farmers’ entry.
- Farmers representing 31 farm bodies have announced that they will reach Delhi through several routes - Lalru, Shambhu, Patiala-Pehowa, Patran-Khanauri, Moonak-Tohana, Ratia-Fatehabad and Talwandi-Sirsa.
- Several politicians have condemned the use of force by Haryana Police on the protesting farmers
- The farmers are protesting against the farm laws as they feel that these laws would pave the way for the dismantling of the minimum support price (MSP) system, leaving them at the mercy of big corporate entities.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)
Centre Should Show Statesmanship: Amarinder Singh
Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh on Friday afternoon urged the Centre to immediately initiate talks with Kisan Unions to defuse the tense situation at the Delhi borders, ANI reported.
Further, he also pointed out that the “Central government needs to show statesmanship and accept the farmers' demand for assured MSP, which is the basic right of every farmer. If they can give verbal assurance I fail to understand why they can't make it a legal obligation of the GOI.”
DMRC Closes Entry to Specific Metro Stations
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) closed the entry and exit gates of the following metro stations located on the green line: Brigadier Hoshiar Singh, Bahadurgarh City, Pandit Shree Ram Sharma, Tikri Border, Tikri Kalan and Ghevra, reported ANI.
Multiple Rounds of Tear Gas
According to news reports, the police stationed at Singhu near the Haryana-Delhi border have fired multiple rounds of tear gas shells to stop the protesting farmers.
Reports of stone pelting as police uses tear gas shells to disperse agitators also emerged.
Peaceful Protest, Won’t Harm Any Person or Property: Farmers
According to ANI, protesting farmers said they're marching to Delhi for their rights. "Whatever we do will be peaceful. We won't harm any person or property. Even if we have to stay for a month, we will. Even if we have attain martyrdom, we will," a farmer told ANI.
A farmer protesting at the border told ANI, "We have been doing a peaceful protest and we will continue it. We will enter Delhi protesting peacefully. In a democracy, one should be allowed to protest.”
Visuals Indicate Heavy Security Deployment
Visuals indicate heavy security deployment, to keep farmers from marching further in.
Delhi Police Commissioner S N Shrivastava, told Hindustan Times that the farmers’ request to protest was rejected as COVID-19 guidelines do not permit any political gathering. “If they still make an attempt, we have deployed personnel at the borders to not let them enter the national capital. We are also in contact with Punjab and Haryana Police,” he added.
So far, police lobbed tear gas shells at the agitators.
Delhi Govt Rejects Police Request to Convert Stadiums Into Temporary Prisons
Delhi government has rejected request of police to convert stadiums into temporary prisons, reported ANI.
Kejriwal With Farmers: AAP Odisha
Aam Admi Party (AAP) Odisha on Friday took to Twitter to state that AAP leaders were arrested for standing with farmers.
“AAP leaders are with farmers”, AAP Odisha tweeted along with #KejriwalKisanDeNaal.
Protesting Farmers Allowed to Enter Delhi
Protesting farmers will be allowed to enter the national capital, reported ANI on Friday, 27 November, citing the Delhi police commissioner. The farmers will reportedly be allowed to protest at Nirankari Samagam Ground in the Burari area.
Further, according to ANI, the Delhi Police Commissioner has appealed to the farmers to maintain order and demonstrate peacefully.
Delhi Police PRO Eish Singhal reportedly told ANI:
I Welcome Centre's Decision to Allow Farmers to Enter: Punjab CM
Welcoming the Centre’s decision to allow farmers to enter Delhi, Punjab CM Amarinder Singh tweeted:
"We Have Been Allowed Safe Passage to Delhi": Krantikari Kisan Union Prez
Punjab farmers' bodies protesting against the Centre's farm laws on Friday, 27 November, according to PTI claimed that the Union government has allowed them entry into Delhi with permission to hold their agitation at the Burari ground.
"We have been allowed safe passage to Delhi," claimed Krantikari Kisan Union president Darshan Pal.
Darshan Pal also reportedly said that officials of the Union home ministry had allowed them a place at Burari in Delhi to hold the agitation. Bharatiya Kisan Union (Rajewal) president Balbir Singh Rajewal said that farmers were headed to the Burari ground.
Haryana Police Files Case Against Truck Driver Who Hit a Tractor-Trolley
Haryana Police has registered a case against the truck driver who hit a tractor-trolley from behind in Mundhal, Bhiwani, leading to the death of a protesting farmer on his way to Delhi, reported ANI.
The police further informed ANI that two others were also injured in the incident.
We Only Want Peaceful Resolution: Farmer
A farmer at the Tikri border area said that they are thankful to the administration for giving them permission to protest and that they only want a peaceful resolution to the issue.
"We've crossed about 10 barriers on our way. We're thankful to the administration for giving us permission to protest. We're happy and only want a peaceful resolution to the issue.”
Exam Cancelled Due to Farmers' Protest March: Delhi College Students
College students, on Friday, reportedly informed ANI that their exam got cancelled due to the farmers' “Chalo Delhi” protest march . A student reportedly said:
Farmers Enter Delhi
Farmers have entered the national capital through the Tikri border after being given permission to hold their demonstrations at the Nirankari Samagam Ground in the Burari area, reported ANI.
Two Trains Cancelled in View of Farmers' Protest in Punjab
In view of the farmers' protest in Punjab, two trains have been cancelled, five trains short terminated and five others diverted, reported ANI, citing Northern Railway.
Traffic Congestion at Delhi-Gurugram Border
Traffic congestion has been reported at the Delhi-Gurugram border due to checking of vehicles by the police, in view of farmers' "Delhi Chalo" march protest, according to ANI.
Ego Is Always Defeated by Truth: Rahul Gandhi
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday afternoon took to Twitter to remind the Prime Minister that "whenever ego clashes with the truth, it is defeated".
Central Govt is Always Ready for Talks: Haryana CM
The Central government is always ready for talks, tweeted Haryana Chief Minister (CM) Manohar Lal Khattar on Friday, 27 November.
Govt Ready to Speak to Protesting Farmers: Union Minister Javadekar
According to News18, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar, on Friday, said that the government is ready to speak to the protesting farmers. He added that “the farm laws are in favour of the farmers.”
Police Remove Barricades at Shambhu Border
The police, on Friday, removed barricades at the Shambhu border between Haryana and Punjab, near Ambala, as farmers were allowed to enter Delhi, reported ANI.
Former Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda Asks People of the State to Help Farmers
Former Haryana CM and Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda appealed to people of the state to extend all possible help like food, accommodation to farmers marching towards Delhi, reported PTI.
Police Using Tear Gas on Those Who Already Have Tears in Their Eyes: Ex-CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda
Former Haryana CM and Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda, according to ANI, lamented the rough treatment of farmers by the state and said:
25,000 Farmers Have Sent a Proposal To PM
All India Secretary of Bharatiya Kisan Sangh Mohini Mohan Mishra, on Friday, shared that nearly 25,000 farmers have sent a proposal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
According to ANI, Mishra said:
Delhi Govt to Provide Essential Amenities to Farmers at Nirankari Maidan
The Delhi government has decided to provide basic facilities to the farmers at Nirankari grounds, beginning with drinking water.
The Arvind Kejriwal government in Delhi has asked its MLA and Delhi Jal Board vice-chairman Raghav Chadha to take stock of the situation by reaching Burari.
The Delhi government said in a press briefing, "Raghav Chadha, Vice Chairman, Delhi Jal Board, will visit the Nirankari grounds, Burari on Friday evening. Proper arrangements for drinking water will be made for farmers who are protesting at the approved protest site. Water tankers are being deployed here. To oversee the preparations, DJB vice-president Raghav Chadha is going to the dharna site."
Akhilesh Yadav Condemns Police Force on Farmers
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav said, “Instead of listening to farmers, BJP govt out to suppress them, using tear gas, water cannons and batons on them.”
Heavy Security Deployement at Singhu Border
Heavy security has been deployed at the Singhu border where protesting farmers have gathered, reported news agency ANI.
This after Delhi Police on 27 November granted permission to farmers to hold their demonstrations at the Nirankari Samagam Ground in Burari area.
Meeting of Farmers Underway at Singhu Border
As they continue protests, a meeting of farmers is underway at the Delhi-Haryana Singhu border.