Farmers Allowed To Enter Delhi Amid Heavy Police Deployment
Defying barricades, water cannons and tear gas, thousands of Punjab farmers marched into Delhi on Friday.
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Video Producer: Shohini Bose
Video Editor: Abhishek Sharma
Thousands of protesting farmers from Punjab and Haryana braved tear gas, water cannons and police barricades for a second straight day before being allowed to enter the national capital on Friday, 27 November.
The farmers, who are protesting 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 Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, however, hit out at Haryana CM ML Khattar over the violence unleashed on the protesting farmers earlier in the day.
Appealing for food and shelter for the agitating farmers, former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Friday said that he was with the farmers in their fight against the government over recently-enacted farm laws.
"This is an appeal to all Haryana residents. Please try to provide food, shelterand medicines to the peacefully agitating farmers," he said.
Protesting farmers had reportedly jumped barricades in Sirsa on Friday morning. 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.
Should Be Allowed to Protest in Democracy: Farmers
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.” The police lobbed tear gas shells at the agitators.
Propped on tractors and trucks, bikes, and many on bicycles and foot the marchers have started from six states, including the neighbouring Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan besides Kerala. The marches have been planned for two months to press the central government to repeal the recently enacted farm laws.
Metro Stations Near Delhi-Haryana Border Closed
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation on Friday stated that train services from NCR towards Delhi will not be available till further notice.
Entry and exit gates of the following metro stations located on the green line have been closed: Brigadier Hoshiar Singh, Bahadurgarh City, Pandit Shree Ram Sharma, Tikri Border, Tikri Kalan and Ghevra.
On the Red line, services between Dilshad Garden and Major Mohit Sharma Rajender Nagar section has been suspended, reported Hindustan Times. On the Yellow Line, train service will not be available between Sultanpur and Guru Dronacharya stations.
On the Violet line, there will be no trains between Badarpur Border and Mewala Maharajpur and on the Magenta line, there will be no services available from Jasola Vihar-Shaheen Bagh to the Botanical Garden section, the publication reported.
Tear Gas Shells Fired at Singhu Border
According to news reports, police stationed at Singhu near the Haryana-Delhi border have fired multiple rounds of tear gas shells to stop the protesting farmers.
In Rohtak, protests broke out after a 45-year-old farmer who was marching to Delhi died in a road accident, reported The Indian Express. Two other farmers were also reportedly injured in the same accident after a loaded trolley and a farmer’s tractor collided.
The Bharatiya Kisan Union alleged that the incident took place due to the hurdles set up by the Haryana government in a bid to stop the ‘Dilli Chalo’ march, reported The Indian Express.
The farmers are demanding the roll back of the three farm laws that were enacted by the Parliament in September this year.
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