In Rajya Sabha, MHA Blames Farmers for R-Day Violence in Delhi

The MHA accused the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha of violating permission granted for taking out ‘Kisan Tractor Parade’.

Tear gas was used to disperse farmers attempting to break through barricades at Ghazipur border for the Kisan Gantantra Parade, in protest against the Centre’s farm reform laws, on 26 January, in New Delhi.

(Photo: PTI)

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Wednesday, 10 March, accused the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) of violating permission granted for taking out 'Kisan Tractor Parade' on the occasion of the Republic Day in the national capital.

Citing reports received from the Delhi Police, Minister of State for Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy informed the Rajya Sabha that the group broke the barricades, in violation of permission granted to them on a mutually accepted route.

Sanyukt Kisan Morcha is a united front of over 40 Indian farmer unions constituted in November last year to coordinate the farmers' protest against the central government over the three contentious farm laws enacted in September last year during the Monsoon session of Parliament.

In a written reply to the query of Aam Aadmi Party member ND Gupta about "nails fixed at farmer's protest site", Reddy said the farmers proceeded towards Central Delhi despite being stopped at other barricades inside the city and broke through those barricades as well.

In view of this experience and the manner in which the farmers used tractors as weapons for breaking barricades and injuring policemen, the minister said the barricades and the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border were strengthened to prevent any possible repeat of conduct displayed on Republic Day.

Gupta in his question had asked “whether it is a fact that nails were fixed on the road at the farmers’ protest site near the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border, the name of the agency identified to carry out the above mentioned orders whether such an action on domestic ground against Indian citizens is permitted under any rule, law or protocol.”

The MHA said adequate deployment of police personnel is made for providing alternative routes to the general public, ensuring law and order, and for ensuring smooth movement of traffic at borders.