Kisan Kranti Yatra updates: Delhi Police justifies action against farmers, says they used 'minimum required force'

7 cops injured during farmers’ protest on Delhi-UP border, say police

Seven policemen, including an assistant commissioner of police, were injured on Tuesday during the protest by farmers on Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border, Delhi Police said.

Police said a section of crowd suddenly turned violent as police tried to persuade the protesters, who were participating in the Bharatiya Kisan Union march, not to break the barricades.

Police said they used 20 tear gas shells and water cannons to manage the crowd, adding it was “minimum required force”.

PTI

Mayawati slams BJP over police action 

The Bahujan Samaj Party Supremo, Mayawati, has condemned the police action of farmers who were trying to reach the national capital to protest. She said that the BJP should be ready to face the consequences. 

Input by Saurabh Sharma/101Reporters.

CPI condemns police action against agitating farmers

The Communist Party of India (CPI) condemned the police action against the agitating farmers.

“The farmers who were on a peaceful march towards the national capital under the banner of BKU raising their genuine demands including waiver of loans were stopped by police at the border and beaten up on a day when the nation is celebrating the birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi,” the party said in a statement.

PTI

Chappal hurled at BKU leaders

A chappal was hurled at the BKU leaders gathered to address the farmers at UP Gate. UP’s Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Cane Development and Sugar Mills, Suresh Rana, was also on stage in the second row.

Input by Kamal Bhargava/101Reporters

Thefts being reported from protest site

Dheeraj Rathi from Barut, UP is one the farmers at UP Gate whose Oppo phone was stolen during the chaos of the day.

At least 10 other farmers have reported the same. A police official has asked them to write their name and numbers on a sheet of paper and submit it to them.

Input by Rahul Satija101Reporters

Govt tries assuring protesting farmers

As thousands of farmers tried to enter the national capital in a massive protest march, the government announced that a committee of chief ministers will look into their demands, even as the protesters stayed put saying they were not “satisfied” with the assurance.

After meeting the protesting farmers at the Delhi-UP border in Ghaziabad, Union minister of state for agriculture Rajendra Singh Shekhawat said the government was assuring the farmers to take forward their cause.

“I assure you all this. We will move court over the NGT order (to ban tractor and vehicles which are more than 10 years old),” he said.

On another problem faced by the farmers about farm labour, the minister said the government would look at bringing in some changes to the minimum wage rules for rural areas to solve this problem.

“The government has formed a committee of six chief ministers to look into this issue of labour for farm. The committee is in talks to connect MNREGA with agriculture,” Shekhawat added. 

“On behalf of (Union Home Minister) Rajnath Singh, I assure you that I will represent the farmers’ interests in this committee and whatever changes would be required to link MNREGA with agriculture will be made,” Shekhawat told the farmers.

The protesting farmers, however, decided to stay put at the Delhi border, where they have been stopped by the police from entering the national capital. — PTI

NGT decision to also be challanged in Supreme Court: News18

Farmers ‘reach agreement’ but no concord on Swaminathan Commission

Police picketed the border with Uttar Pradesh, imposing prohibitory orders banning assembly of five or more people and holding of any public meeting, usage of any amplifier, loudspeaker, and similar instruments. The Kisan Kranti Yatra, which began from Tikait Ghat in Haridwar on 23 September, was joined by farmers from various parts of Uttar Pradesh.

These are the seven demands from BKU which government has accepted:

Input by Rahul Satija/101Reporters

Govt did not clear its stand on the main issue: BKU spokesperson

“Government didn’t clear its stand on the main issue of the farmers — C2+50. That is why the farmers are dissatisfied. It didn’t clear its stand even on the other main issue of loan waiver. They said they will discuss it in detail,” ANI quoted BKU spokesperson as saying.

Loud jeers from the UP Gate gathering when farmers are told about govt’s proposals

When farmers gathered at UP Gate are told about the government’s proposal, there are loud jeers.

The crowd appears to be dissatisfied with the deal and frustrated farmers are seen preparing to leave. BKU leaders have said they will deliberate on whether they will be accepting the government’s proposal.

Rahul Satija/101Reporters

Ghaziabad DM reaches UP Gate

Input by Kamal Bhargava/101Reporters

Farmers camping near UP Gate ask Rajnath Singh to send food and water

Farmers who have been camping near UP Gate in Ghazipur asked Rajnath Singh to send some food and water their way. We bought some food from home, but that’s over and we are having to pay Rs 30 for a bottle of water and Rs 100 for a ’thali’, one farmer said.

Earlier in the day, a tanker of water had apparently arrived but that was not enough for everyone there.

“The government hasn’t made any arrangements for us here. But we are determined to stay here until they allow us to complete our march at Kisan Ghat,” they said.

We are farmers, we are used to difficulties, one of them said. “We have come walking 200 kms peacefully; we haven’t hurt anyone, or damaged any public property…why are we being stopped here?”

Another farmer asked: when netas from Delhi come to UP to take out their rallies, why can’t we farmers be allowed into Delhi to take out our rally?

Rahul Satija/101Reporters

Centre to challenge ban on 10-year-old diesel vehicles

Centre has agreed to seven out of the nine demands of the protesting farmers, according to CNN-News18.

Visuals froms the CWC meeting in Wardha earlier

RLD blocks highway near Muzaffarnagar, protests against police action

Rashtriya Lok Dal workers blocked NH-58 near Muzaffarnagar, condemning police action against farmers on Tuesday morning. Their leader Ajit Singh is at the UP Gate to show solidarity with farmers

They blocked the highway with their bikes and tractors and raised anti-BJP slogans.

Kamal Bhargava/101Reporters

‘MSP announced by the Centre has been of no use to farmers’

Speaking outside Rajnath Singh’s home, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha’s vice president G T Ramaswami said that they have put forth certain demands before the central government. The Minister of State for Agriculture and other ministers will now go to the protest venue to make certain announcements to the farmers gathered there. “We will decide on further action after hearing what they have to say.”

He also went on to say that the MSP announced by the Centre has been of no use to farmers because no one comes forward to purchase at MSP. “Farmers are forced to sell at lowers prices are there is no penalty against those who buy below MSP. We want the legality of this addressed. The Centre says they will instruct state governments to increase their procurement but this never works out. In the case of Karnataka, we have a different party in power in the state who are not particularly keen to carrying out Centre’s orders. We are happy if either the Centre or the state procures the crops, paying, at least, half immediately and the rest later, he says.

Kuldeep Singh/101Reporters

Modi might lose Delhi if injustice against farmers continue

“Farmers aren’t terrorists or Naxals, they’re coming with demands. Don’t they have right to do that? SS Chouhan government killed farmers in Mandsaur, today they’re about to lose Madhya Pradesh. Warning Modi ji if injustice with farmers continue, he’ll lose Delhi, says R Shetty of Swabhimani Sattkar Sanghatana.

JUST IN: Congress passes resolution criticising police action on farmers

The Hindu reported that the Congress Working Committee passes a resolution criticising the police action on farmers, especially on a day that is celebrated as non violence day

Modi and Yogi, save yourselves, says agitating farmers

Akash Tyagi, a native of Meerut who lives in Delhi, is among the protestors being held back at UP Gate. He is incensed that this government has made ‘jawans’ and ‘kisans’ confront each other in this manner, calling it worse than the colonial government.

“This to happen on 2 October is the worst misfortune. The same state of the injured farmers who have been taken away in ambulances will be inflicted on this government by the farmers in 2019,” he says. “Modi and Yogi, understand this and save yourself.”

Rahul Satija/101Reporters

‘Andolan aa raha hai’

Kuldeep Pahelwa, a farmer who walked all the way from Haridwar along with 100 other farmers, says “andolan aa raha hai”. His foremost demand is for the government to settle his sugarcane dues. “I am tired of this situation,’ said the hapless farmer. 

Rahul Satija/101Reporters

Implementing the Swaminathan Commission and complete loan waiver have not been accepted

Suresh Rana, Chaudhary Laxmi Narayan Singh and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat are about to go meet protestors at UP Gate. Farmers had submitted nine demands, out which the government has agreed on seven. The demands regarding implementing the Swaminathan Commission and complete loan waiver have not been accepted.

Kuldeep Singh/101Reporters

Why is the police firing at us… we haven’t come to harm anybody: Farmer from Punjab

Speaking to News18 , a farmer agitating at the Delhi-UP border said, “Are we really dangerous? Are we a threat to the city-dwellers? Why is the police hitting us and firing at us? We have not come to harm anybody. Let us protest and claim our rights. We will leave after that. Why will a farmer want to disrupt normal lives?”

Kartar Singh, a farmer from Punjab, added and said that they can sit here for days as they are used to working under the sun. “You will get nothing by making us uncomfortable,”  he says.

Image by News18

World non-violence day celebrations start with beating farmers, tweets Rahul Gandhi

Taking at dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said that the BJP government’s two-year celebration to mark the 150th anniversary of Gandhi Jayanti began with brutal thrashing. “Now, farmers can’t even come to Delhi and share their pain,” he says.

Centre agrees to 7 of 9 demands, say reports

According to News18, Centre has agreed to seven of 9 demands put forth by the BKU leaders in the meeting with Rajnath Singh earlier today. Details are still awaited.

Unrelenting farmers said they won’t go back unless their demands are met

“Hum apna haq leke jayenge,” blazed protesting farmers at the Delhi-UP border. The farmers told TV channels that everything is at stake for them. “We have left everything behind and come. And we will not leave unless all our demands are met. Due to the faulty policies of this government, farmers are crushing under increasing debt. This will not work,” say farmers.

Rajnath Singh meeting with farmers ends

Home Minister Rajnath Singh met the farmers’ leaders and discussed their demands and have reached an agreement on the majority of the issues. Farmers’ leaders, UP ministers Laxmi Narayan ji, Suresh Rana ji and I will go to meet farmers now, says MoS agriculture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.

Delhi govt minister to arrive at Delhi-UP border soon

News18 reported that a Delhi government minister will soon arrive at the Delhi-UP border to meet the agitating farmers. However, the name has not been confirmed.

BKU leaders will shortly address the media

BKU leaders emerge out of Rajnath Singh’s more and prepare to address the press gathered there.

Kuldeep Singh/101Reporters

RLD’s Ajit Singh expresses support for farmers

Rashtriya Lok Dal president Ajit Singh expressed his support for the farmers and is reportedly on route to UP Gate to meet the protestors.

He said the farmers are suffering financially due to the increase in electricity prices, non-payment of sugarcane dues and other reasons and now on top of that, they have to buy new diesel tractors after 10 years. He questioned the hue and cry over letting them enter Delhi when they have already said that they only want to march peacefully.

Kamal Bhargava/101Reporters

BKU condemns police action on protesting farmers

BKU leader Rakesh Tikait said, “Police action on farmers is wrong. Our leaders are holding a meeting with Home Minister Rajnath Singh. We will decide our next course of action after holding consultations with our leaders.”

Farmers run out of food and water

The protest has exhausted the farmers now. News18 reports that several farmers and their wives were seen roaming around in search of food. Since the food and mineral water at nearby shops the expensive, they have walked down for a kilometre looking for affordable eatables.

All they want is the movement of their yatra into the national capital, News18 reported.

Farmers wait on UP-Delhi border

News18 reports farmers sit atop the hug music system installed on the tractor-trolley in which they travelled. They are now sitting at the Delhi-UP border as the police has disallowed them to enter the national capital.

Twitterati questions govt on use of force on farmers

Twitterati also questioned the government on the use of baton and tear gas on the day when the world is celebrating International Non-violence Day to mark Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary.

30 farmers injured after police lathicharge

According to eyewitnesses, over 30 farmers have been injured in the police lathicharge on Tuesday morning, though the police have said only 10 persons had sustained injuries.

The injured have been taken in ambulances to private hospitals nearby, particularly Sarvodaya Hospital and Shanti Doot Hospital.

Kamal Bhargava/101Reporters

Congress slams Modi government for being insensitive to farmers’ demand

Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala slammed the NDA government for the “inhuman, unjust and unpardonable treatment of the farmers.” He said that the fact that government is brutally beating up India’s farmers on a day when the nation is celebrating birth anniversaries of Lal Bahadur Shastri and Mahatma Gandhi.  

Rajnath Singh says police won’t act aggressively against protesting farmers 

Home Minister Rajnath Singh has issued a statement saying the police will not take any aggressive action against the protesting farmers and any such incidents will be investigated. In this footage from around noon, police are seen dispersing the crowd with water cannons.

Video Sourced by Kamal Bhargava/101Reporters

‘Can’t enter Delhi without government’s permission,’ police tries to tell farmers

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday morning at UP Gate, ADG Meerut Prashant Kumar said that the Delhi Police have banned entry to the marching farmers for time being. “We have made arrangements to stop them here and we have been trying to tell them that it is not possible to enter Delhi without the government’s permission. Farmers delegations have met Union ministers yesterday and they will meet a few ministers today to put forth their demands.”

When asked what would they do if the farmers try to force their way in, Kumar said they have enough manpower to prevent that and the farmers know that as well. “Everyone has the right to peaceful protests and the police will maintain peace and order in any condition,” he said.

Kamal Bhargava/101Reporters

Sitaram Yechury: It reconfirms the fact that Modi govt is anti-farmers

Narendra Modi government is anti-farmers, said CPM’s Sitaram Yechury. “It reconfirms the fact that Modi govt is anti-farmers. Instead of providing relief to farmers they are exasperating the crisis further forcing farmers to be under debt burden&distress suicides. We haven’t seen such an agrarian distress in India since independence.”