News Analysis India

Tag: Jantar Mantar

  • New Delhi: Hate speech erupts at Hindu Mahapanchayat in Jantar Mantar, police step in and call a halt

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The partition will be incomplete as long as a single Muslim stays in this country, declared the president of a little-known Hindutva outfit at a Hindu Mahapanchayat held at Jantar Mantar in the national capital on Sunday (August 20) before the police intervened and stopped the event. 

    The Mahapanchayat was organised by All India Sanatan Foundation and other related Hindutva outfits against the communal clashes that broke out in Haryana’s Nuh on July 31. 

    The Hindu Sena president Vishnu Gupta launched his speech by castigating the incumbent BJP-ruled government in Haryana for failing to stop the clashes in Nuh and not being able to “sanitize” the area which, he said, is day after day becoming a hub of criminals especially those involved in cyber crimes.

    Gupta further demanded the setting up of a CRPF camp or an Army cantonment in Nuh to instill fear in the minds of the criminals. However, as he proceeded further, the Hindu Sena chief declared that the partition will be incomplete as long as a single Muslim stays in this country.

    “This country was divided in 1947 on the basis of religion and as long as a single Muslim is living in this country, the partition will remain incomplete,” Gupta thundered from the podium.

    Immediately, two Delhi Police officers clambered up the stage and one of them announced how the police department had repeatedly warned the organisers not to resort to hate speech and target any particular community, and since the speakers have failed to abide by it, the officer added, “We got to end this event right now and we request you to disperse.” 

    Following this, a minor argument broke out between the cops and members of the Mahapanchayat after which 5-6 people were briefly detained by the police. 

    It may be recalled that the Nuh violence claimed six lives including that of two Home Guard Jawans. The violence broke out following clashes between the mob and the participants of the Jalabhishek Yatra. A self-proclaimed cow vigilante Raj Kumar alias Bittu Bajrangi was arrested by Haryana Police recently from Faridabad in connection with the clashes. It has been reported that a few “triggering” videos on social media by Monu Monesar, who is an accused in the Bhiwani double-murder case, and Bittu Bajrangi, set the stages for the Nuh violence.  

    NEW DELHI: The partition will be incomplete as long as a single Muslim stays in this country, declared the president of a little-known Hindutva outfit at a Hindu Mahapanchayat held at Jantar Mantar in the national capital on Sunday (August 20) before the police intervened and stopped the event. 

    The Mahapanchayat was organised by All India Sanatan Foundation and other related Hindutva outfits against the communal clashes that broke out in Haryana’s Nuh on July 31. 

    The Hindu Sena president Vishnu Gupta launched his speech by castigating the incumbent BJP-ruled government in Haryana for failing to stop the clashes in Nuh and not being able to “sanitize” the area which, he said, is day after day becoming a hub of criminals especially those involved in cyber crimes.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Gupta further demanded the setting up of a CRPF camp or an Army cantonment in Nuh to instill fear in the minds of the criminals. However, as he proceeded further, the Hindu Sena chief declared that the partition will be incomplete as long as a single Muslim stays in this country.

    “This country was divided in 1947 on the basis of religion and as long as a single Muslim is living in this country, the partition will remain incomplete,” Gupta thundered from the podium.

    Immediately, two Delhi Police officers clambered up the stage and one of them announced how the police department had repeatedly warned the organisers not to resort to hate speech and target any particular community, and since the speakers have failed to abide by it, the officer added, “We got to end this event right now and we request you to disperse.” 

    Following this, a minor argument broke out between the cops and members of the Mahapanchayat after which 5-6 people were briefly detained by the police. 

    It may be recalled that the Nuh violence claimed six lives including that of two Home Guard Jawans. The violence broke out following clashes between the mob and the participants of the Jalabhishek Yatra. A self-proclaimed cow vigilante Raj Kumar alias Bittu Bajrangi was arrested by Haryana Police recently from Faridabad in connection with the clashes. It has been reported that a few “triggering” videos on social media by Monu Monesar, who is an accused in the Bhiwani double-murder case, and Bittu Bajrangi, set the stages for the Nuh violence. 
     

  • Delhi Police barricades border entries to stop wrestlers’ supporters from coming to Jantar Mantar

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The heads of the 15 police districts in the national capital have been instructed to be on alert in their jurisdictions, especially in the border areas, in the aftermath of a late-night ruckus at Jantar Mantar between police and some wrestlers on protest, a senior officer said on Thursday.

    The direction was given to the DCPs of all the districts after police received inputs that a large number of people could be heading to Jantar Mantar, where wrestlers have been on a sit-in demanding action against WFI Chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, allegedly for sexually harassing a number of female wrestlers.

    “Directions have been issued to all the DCPs to be on alert in their districts, especially in the border areas. They have also been asked to take special care and keep watch on roads which go towards Central Delhi,” the officer said.

    Barricades have been put up at several locations across Delhi as part of precautionary measures to ensure no untoward incident takes place, he said.

    The development comes a day after a scuffle broke out between the protesting wrestlers and some policemen at the Jantar Mantar here, leading to a couple of protesters getting injured in the head.

    The wrestlers have alleged that they were beaten up by the police. According to protestors, two wrestlers, Rahul Yadav and Dushyant Phogat, were injured in the incident. Phogat, an award-winning wrestler, also received head injuries.

    Police in the night detained Rajya Sabha MP Deepender Hooda and chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) Swati Maliwal when they went to the spot to support the wrestlers.

    The wrestlers have been staging a sit-in at Jantar Mantar since April 23.

    They have levelled allegations of sexual harassment against the Wrestlers Federation of India chief, who is also a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Uttar Pradesh.

    READ MORE:

    Protesting wrestlers move SC seeking FIR against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh

    NEW DELHI: The heads of the 15 police districts in the national capital have been instructed to be on alert in their jurisdictions, especially in the border areas, in the aftermath of a late-night ruckus at Jantar Mantar between police and some wrestlers on protest, a senior officer said on Thursday.

    The direction was given to the DCPs of all the districts after police received inputs that a large number of people could be heading to Jantar Mantar, where wrestlers have been on a sit-in demanding action against WFI Chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, allegedly for sexually harassing a number of female wrestlers.

    “Directions have been issued to all the DCPs to be on alert in their districts, especially in the border areas. They have also been asked to take special care and keep watch on roads which go towards Central Delhi,” the officer said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Barricades have been put up at several locations across Delhi as part of precautionary measures to ensure no untoward incident takes place, he said.

    The development comes a day after a scuffle broke out between the protesting wrestlers and some policemen at the Jantar Mantar here, leading to a couple of protesters getting injured in the head.

    The wrestlers have alleged that they were beaten up by the police. According to protestors, two wrestlers, Rahul Yadav and Dushyant Phogat, were injured in the incident. Phogat, an award-winning wrestler, also received head injuries.

    Police in the night detained Rajya Sabha MP Deepender Hooda and chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) Swati Maliwal when they went to the spot to support the wrestlers.

    The wrestlers have been staging a sit-in at Jantar Mantar since April 23.

    They have levelled allegations of sexual harassment against the Wrestlers Federation of India chief, who is also a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Uttar Pradesh.

    READ MORE:

    Protesting wrestlers move SC seeking FIR against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh

  • Farmers stage protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, demand legal guarantee for MSP

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Scores of farmers affiliated with the All India Kisan Congress gathered at the Jantar Mantar here on Friday, demanding legal guarantee for MSP and compensation for the kin of farmers killed in last year’s agitation against the Centre’s three farm laws.

    Thousands of farmers, particularly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, protested at the borders of the national capital for over a year, demanding the repeal of the three farm laws. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced repealing the three laws in November.

    The Congress’ unit for farmers on Friday accused the BJP-led central government of not cooperating with the farmers and reneging on its promises made to them following which, the year-long stir at Delhi borders was suspended.

    Addressing a sea of protestors amid heavy security, Senior Congress leader Randeep Surjewala criticised the Modi government for failing to fulfil the promises it has made to the farmers last year. He called the Narendra Modi-led government “anti-farmer”.

    “It is because of the anti-farmer approach of the Modi government. This is one of the reasons why they find it difficult to implement MSP,” he said.

    “This protest should not be limited to Jantar Mantar. We should take it forward and fight for the rights of farmers, who feed the nation,” he added.

    “Even though Congress has lost the election it has not lost the courage to fight. Modi government has failed to deliver on the promise of implementing a MSP law,” party leader Alka Lamba said.

    Speaking to PTI, Hargobind Singh, joint coordinator of the AIKC, said, “Central government is neither cooperating with the farmers nor addressing their issues. It has been over a year since the anti-farm laws protest ended, but the government’s promise of ensuring MSP to farmers has not been fulfilled yet.”

    “The centre should immediately release the compensation for the families of farmers who sacrificed their lives while fighting for their rights. It is unfortunate that the Centre does not even have the list of those who lost their lives during the protest. How will they even release the compensation?” he asked.

    “The Minimum Support Price (MSP) scheme must be implemented soon. The country still does not have a proper law for farmers which can directly benefit them,” he added.

    Holding the Congress party’s flag and raising slogans of “jai jawan, jai kisan”, farmers from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Bihar and some southern states gathered at the 18th-century observatory. The farmers said they are protesting against the BJP government’s “anti-farmers policies”.

    Dileep Singh, who hails from Punjab, asserted that the farmers should get their due rights.

    “We have come here to protest against the Modi government and its anti-farmers policies. Farmers are being suppressed under this regime. We have gathered here for our rights. We believe that farmers should get their due rights.”

    Kailash Yadav, who has come from Jaipur, said, “We are here to strengthen the farmers’ movement. We are here in solidarity with our farmers who have been facing many problems under the present government.”

    “We are not getting proper MSP and we were told that our salary would double but nothing of this sort has happened,” he added.

    NEW DELHI: Scores of farmers affiliated with the All India Kisan Congress gathered at the Jantar Mantar here on Friday, demanding legal guarantee for MSP and compensation for the kin of farmers killed in last year’s agitation against the Centre’s three farm laws.

    Thousands of farmers, particularly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, protested at the borders of the national capital for over a year, demanding the repeal of the three farm laws. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced repealing the three laws in November.

    The Congress’ unit for farmers on Friday accused the BJP-led central government of not cooperating with the farmers and reneging on its promises made to them following which, the year-long stir at Delhi borders was suspended.

    Addressing a sea of protestors amid heavy security, Senior Congress leader Randeep Surjewala criticised the Modi government for failing to fulfil the promises it has made to the farmers last year. He called the Narendra Modi-led government “anti-farmer”.

    “It is because of the anti-farmer approach of the Modi government. This is one of the reasons why they find it difficult to implement MSP,” he said.

    “This protest should not be limited to Jantar Mantar. We should take it forward and fight for the rights of farmers, who feed the nation,” he added.

    “Even though Congress has lost the election it has not lost the courage to fight. Modi government has failed to deliver on the promise of implementing a MSP law,” party leader Alka Lamba said.

    Speaking to PTI, Hargobind Singh, joint coordinator of the AIKC, said, “Central government is neither cooperating with the farmers nor addressing their issues. It has been over a year since the anti-farm laws protest ended, but the government’s promise of ensuring MSP to farmers has not been fulfilled yet.”

    “The centre should immediately release the compensation for the families of farmers who sacrificed their lives while fighting for their rights. It is unfortunate that the Centre does not even have the list of those who lost their lives during the protest. How will they even release the compensation?” he asked.

    “The Minimum Support Price (MSP) scheme must be implemented soon. The country still does not have a proper law for farmers which can directly benefit them,” he added.

    Holding the Congress party’s flag and raising slogans of “jai jawan, jai kisan”, farmers from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Bihar and some southern states gathered at the 18th-century observatory. The farmers said they are protesting against the BJP government’s “anti-farmers policies”.

    Dileep Singh, who hails from Punjab, asserted that the farmers should get their due rights.

    “We have come here to protest against the Modi government and its anti-farmers policies. Farmers are being suppressed under this regime. We have gathered here for our rights. We believe that farmers should get their due rights.”

    Kailash Yadav, who has come from Jaipur, said, “We are here to strengthen the farmers’ movement. We are here in solidarity with our farmers who have been facing many problems under the present government.”

    “We are not getting proper MSP and we were told that our salary would double but nothing of this sort has happened,” he added.

  • Jantar Mantar protest: Farmers charm the lot with traditional attire, emotional connect 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Among the hundreds of farmers who began their demonstration at the Jantar Mantar over a slew of issues, 64-year-old Sriaj Kodyuriv from Kerala garnered the most attention with his ‘Adivasi’ attire Kodyuriv reached Delhi on Monday after covering a three-day train journey from Kerala.

    For several hours, he stood at Jantar Mantar holding placards that read Implement MSP, Save farmer’.

    “Farmers are closest to nature. If they abandon their farm equipment, we won’t be getting any food. I am here for this,” Kodyuriv said.

    Asked why he chose the ‘Adivasi’ attire, he said: “This is to send a message that the farmers and tribal people deserve their rights.

    “Jantar Mantar buzzed with voices of dissent on Monday as farmers from all over the country gathered here demanding a law ensuring minimum support price for crops, farm loan waiver, and sacking of Union Minister Ajay Mishra.

    Ajay Mishra is the father of Ashish Mishra, an accused in a case related to mowing down four farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh during a farmer protest last October.

    Farmers, hundreds in number, launched their protest amid heavy security arrangements in a ‘mahapanchayat’ called by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) at Jantar Mantar.

    They waved flags, wore caps with the name of their farm organisations inscribed on them, and raised slogans for farmer unity and against the Centre accusing it of not coming good on its promises.

    Farmers protested at the Gazipur border in New Delhi.Express video | @parveennegi1. pic.twitter.com/3WRQltgFuQ
    — The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) August 22, 2022
    Magha Nibori, a farmer from Punjab with one acre of farmland which he cultivates with seasonal crops, said he came here fully prepared to stay put, if required.

    Many travelled thousands of kilometres to take part in the mahapanchayat.

    “I am here from Cochin. Around 250 people have come from Kerala and nearby states to urge PM Modi to agree to our demands regarding MSP law, and other issues. We want India to withdraw from the WTO. Ajay Mishra should resign,” said Paulsen, a 50-year-old farmer from Cochin, Kerala.

    Many farmers registered their protests in their own unique ways.

    One of them came wearing a garland of garlic, while another, a woman, wore a saree with tricolours.

    “The government made a promise but now they are not doing anything. There is no concrete action taken by the government. If we can raise a person to power. We can also bring him down. The government should understand this,” Kavita, clad in tricolour print saree, said.

    As farmers associated with different unions reached Delhi, police obstructed their way to the protest site erecting deep layers of barricades across entry points of the city, and checked every vehicle entering the national capital, causing huge traffic jams.

    Besides the borders, Ghazipur, Singhu and Tikri, key stretches on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway, the Palam flyover, Aurobindo Marg, Ring Road (near Indraprastha Park), the Ghaziabad-Wazirabad road, and the Munirka road, and several other stretches, witnessed traffic snarls.

    Other than north India, farmers from states such as Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha and Kerala arrived in Delhi to take part in the ‘mahapanchayat.’

    NEW DELHI: Among the hundreds of farmers who began their demonstration at the Jantar Mantar over a slew of issues, 64-year-old Sriaj Kodyuriv from Kerala garnered the most attention with his ‘Adivasi’ attire Kodyuriv reached Delhi on Monday after covering a three-day train journey from Kerala.

    For several hours, he stood at Jantar Mantar holding placards that read Implement MSP, Save farmer’.

    “Farmers are closest to nature. If they abandon their farm equipment, we won’t be getting any food. I am here for this,” Kodyuriv said.

    Asked why he chose the ‘Adivasi’ attire, he said: “This is to send a message that the farmers and tribal people deserve their rights.

    “Jantar Mantar buzzed with voices of dissent on Monday as farmers from all over the country gathered here demanding a law ensuring minimum support price for crops, farm loan waiver, and sacking of Union Minister Ajay Mishra.

    Ajay Mishra is the father of Ashish Mishra, an accused in a case related to mowing down four farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh during a farmer protest last October.

    Farmers, hundreds in number, launched their protest amid heavy security arrangements in a ‘mahapanchayat’ called by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) at Jantar Mantar.

    They waved flags, wore caps with the name of their farm organisations inscribed on them, and raised slogans for farmer unity and against the Centre accusing it of not coming good on its promises.

    Farmers protested at the Gazipur border in New Delhi.
    Express video | @parveennegi1. pic.twitter.com/3WRQltgFuQ
    — The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) August 22, 2022
    Magha Nibori, a farmer from Punjab with one acre of farmland which he cultivates with seasonal crops, said he came here fully prepared to stay put, if required.

    Many travelled thousands of kilometres to take part in the mahapanchayat.

    “I am here from Cochin. Around 250 people have come from Kerala and nearby states to urge PM Modi to agree to our demands regarding MSP law, and other issues. We want India to withdraw from the WTO. Ajay Mishra should resign,” said Paulsen, a 50-year-old farmer from Cochin, Kerala.

    Many farmers registered their protests in their own unique ways.

    One of them came wearing a garland of garlic, while another, a woman, wore a saree with tricolours.

    “The government made a promise but now they are not doing anything. There is no concrete action taken by the government. If we can raise a person to power. We can also bring him down. The government should understand this,” Kavita, clad in tricolour print saree, said.

    As farmers associated with different unions reached Delhi, police obstructed their way to the protest site erecting deep layers of barricades across entry points of the city, and checked every vehicle entering the national capital, causing huge traffic jams.

    Besides the borders, Ghazipur, Singhu and Tikri, key stretches on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway, the Palam flyover, Aurobindo Marg, Ring Road (near Indraprastha Park), the Ghaziabad-Wazirabad road, and the Munirka road, and several other stretches, witnessed traffic snarls.

    Other than north India, farmers from states such as Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha and Kerala arrived in Delhi to take part in the ‘mahapanchayat.’

  • Plea in SC seeks direction to permit farmers’ body to stage ‘Satyagrah’ at Jantar Mantar

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: A farmers’ body, which is protesting against the three farm laws passed last year, has approached the Supreme Court seeking directions to the concerned authorities to allow it to stage ‘Satyagrah’ at the Jantar Mantar here.

    The plea, which is scheduled to be taken up for hearing on Friday by a bench headed by Justice A M Khanwilkar, has sought the apex court’s direction to the concerned authorities to provide space to at least 200 farmers or protestors of ‘Kisan Mahapanchayat’ at the Jantar Mantar for organising peaceful and non-violent ‘Satyagrah’.

    The plea, filed through advocate Ajay Choudhary, has arrayed the Centre, the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, and the Police Commissioner of Delhi as respondents.

    The petition filed by ‘Kisan Mahapanchayat’, a body of farmers and agriculturists, and its president has said that representation made by them to the concerned authority to permit them to hold a peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar has been rejected.

    “The action of the respondents is also discriminatory and arbitrary as permission to protest has been granted to another farmer body while denying the petitioner to organise staggered ‘Satyagrah’, which is the most non-violent, peaceful, and truthful form of protest perfected and practiced by father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi,” the plea has alleged.

    It claimed that the action of concerned authorities in permitting similar protests at the same site is “unfair” and violative of the Right to Equality.

    The plea has also sought a direction to the authorities not to stop the petitioner body and its members from proceeding towards Jantar Mantar to carry out indefinite ‘Satyagrah’.

    The farmers are protesting against the passage of three laws — The Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020 and Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020.

    Initially, the protests started from Punjab in November last year and later spread mainly to Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.

  • Hindu Raksha Dal chief held for raising communal slogans at Jantar Mantar on August 8

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Hindu Raksha Dal chief Bhupinder Tomar alias Pinki Chaudhary, accused of raising communal slogans at a rally in Jantar Mantar here on August 8, was arrested on Tuesday, police said.

    In a video that surfaced online on Monday, Chaudhary is seen denying all allegations against him.

    He had claimed in the video that he would surrender before the police on Tuesday and cooperate in the investigation.

    A senior police officer said Chaudhary was present outside the Mandir Marg police station from where he was arrested around 2.30 pm on Tuesday.

    The officer said he doesn’t know if Chaudhary was planning to go to Connaught Place police station.

    The Delhi Police had registered a case after a video showing anti-Muslim slogans being raised during a protest at Jantar Mantar here on August 8 was widely circulated on social media.

    The Delhi Police has already arrested eight people — Uttam Upadhyay, Ashwini Upadhyay, Preet Singh, Deepak Singh, Deepak Kumar, Vinod Sharma, Vinit Bajpai and Sushil Tiwari — in connection with the case.

    Raids were being conducted in the national capital and neighbouring states to arrest Chaudhary.

    In the video that surfaced on Monday, he said, “Neither I nor anyone else in my organisation did anything wrong at Jantar Mantar.

    I respect the court and will surrender on August 31 around 12 pm at the Connaught Place police station.” “It is the right of every person to go to court and I did the same. All the allegations against me are false and baseless. I have devoted my life towards Hinduism and Hindutva. As long as I am alive, I will continue to work for my religion,” Chaudhary said.

    The Delhi High Court on Friday had refused to grant interim protection from arrest to Chaudhary.

    Earlier this month, a sessions court here had also dismissed Chaudhary’s anticipatory bail application.

  • Opposition leaders to join protesting farmers at Jantar Mantar

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Several opposition party leaders will on Friday go to Jantar Mantar here to express solidarity with farmers protesting against the contentious farm laws and participate in the ‘Kisan Sansad’.

    Leaders of 14 opposition parties met in Parliament house at 10 AM and decided to extend their support to the farmers’ agitation and sit in solidarity with them.

    Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and several other leaders of Opposition parties were present in the meeting held in the chamber of Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge.

    Opposition leaders including Gandhi will participate in the Kisan Sansad at Jantar Mantar and support the farmers in their demand for repeal of farm laws, Kharge told reporters after the meeting.

    “The Opposition leaders’ meeting decided to hold their protest in Jantar Mantar at 1 PM and sit with the protesting farmers,” a senior leader told PTI.

    The leaders would travel from Parliament at 12.

    30 PM in a bus and would participate in the Kisan Sansad at Jantar Mantar.

    Leaders of several parties including the Congress, DMK, TMC, NCP, Shiv Sena, RJD, SP, CPIM, AAP, CPI, IUML, RSP, NC and LJD attended the opposition meeting.

    The opposition leaders also discussed their floor strategy in both houses of Parliament during the meeting.

     

  • 200 farmers reach Jantar Mantar for protest against farm laws amid heavy security arrangements

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: A group of 200 farmers reached Jantar Mantar in central Delhi on Thursday to protest against the Centre’s three contentious farm laws as the Monsoon session of Parliament was underway.

    Police threw a ring of security around central Delhi and kept a tight vigil on the movement of vehicles.

    Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal has given special permission for demonstration by a maximum of 200 farmers at Jantar Mantar, a few metres from the Parliament Complex, till August 9.

    The 200 farmers, wearing identification badges and carrying flags of their unions, travelled to Jantar Mantar from their Singhu border protest site in buses with a police escort.

    Buses, carrying farmers, arrive at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. The protesting farmers will agitate against Central Government’s three farm laws here. pic.twitter.com/ru3WfYa63p
    — ANI (@ANI) July 22, 2021

    The protest was to start at 11 am, but the farmers reached the venue only by 12:25 pm.

    Farmer leader Shiv Kumar Kakka said police stopped them at three places en route and their Aadhaar cards were checked.

    Upon reaching Jantar Mantar, farmers raised slogans, demanding the government scrap the three laws.

    The protesting farmers have been restricted to a small section of Jantar Mantar with police putting up barricades on both sides.

    Several teams of the Delhi Police manned the roads leading to the protest venue, while personnel of the Rapid Action Force, an specialized unit of the Central Reserve Police Force, stood guard at the site, carrying riot shields and batons.

    Delhi: Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait reaches Jantar Mantar as farmers begin their protest against Central Government’s three farm laws. pic.twitter.com/8LdOFkIlnp
    — ANI (@ANI) July 22, 2021

    A water cannon and metal-detector gates have been deployed at the site.

    Two tankers carrying drinking water have also been stationed there.

    The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of farmer unions spearheading the protest against the three farm laws, has been asked to give an undertaking that all COVID-19 norms would be followed and the stir would be peaceful.

    Although the SKM had said that their protest at Jantar Mantar would continue till the end of the Monsoon session of Parliament on August 13, the lieutenant governor has given permission for protest till August 9.

    This is the first time since the violence in the national capital during a tractor rally on January 26 that the authorities have granted permission to the protesting farmer unions to hold a demonstration in the city.

    Gathering for protests is currently not allowed in the national capital in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an order by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority.

    Thousands of farmers from across the country have been agitating at three Delhi border points — Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur — against the three farm laws that they claim will do away with the minimum support price system, leaving them at the mercy of big corporations.

    Over 10 rounds of talks with the government, which has been projecting the laws at major agricultural reforms, have failed to break the deadlock between the two sides.

    PTI GVS AMP SMN SMN 07221256 NNNN

  • We stand united with farmers in ensuring their good future: Rahul Gandhi

    The leaders of all opposition parties stand united with farmers in ensuring their good future, Congress president Rahul Gandhi said on Friday and called for a farm loan waiver.

    Addressing a gathering of protesting farmers at Jantar Mantar, he said no one will be able to silence the voice of farmers and youth.

    If the Indian government insults them, then they will will ensure its removal, Gandhi said.

    He added that the farmers were not seeking a “free gift” from the government by asking for a farm loan waiver. They were only asking for what’s due to them, the Congress chief asserted.

    “If this government can waive Rs 3.5 lakh crore loans of 15 big industrialists, why can’t the loans of crores of farmers in the country be waived?” he asked.