The protesting farmers on the outskirts of the Delhi borders are gearing themselves up to enter Delhi and hold a tractor rally on the Republic Day of India when all attention will be on the Raj Path. “We make it clear that we recognise the fundamental right to protest against a law. There is no question of balancing or curtailing it. But it should not damage anyone’s life or property,” Chief Justice SA Bobde had said at a hearing in December last year. The Delhi Police on Saturday granted permission to the farmers to carry out a tractor rally on January 26 in the Capital, but on the condition that they will start only after the completion of the official parade on Raj Path. As per the agreement, the farmers will enter Delhi from the borders, but stay in the adjoining areas and not venture towards New Delhi.
Around 25,000 tractors from Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand will participate in the “Kisan Parade” in the national capital on Republic Day, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait said. Most importantly he also mentioned that “No political person will be allowed to participate.” Thousands of tractors are headed for Delhi from Punjab and Haryana to participate in the ‘parade’. Kulwant Singh Sandhu, general secretary of the Punjab Jamhoori Kisan Sabha, has mentioned that “around 2.5 to 3 lakh tractors will take to the roads near the protest sites. The parade will be absolutely peaceful from our end.” The Delhi Police had held a series of talks with farmers trying to convince them first to cancel their parade, and later to keep it outside the Capital, even as security was tightened in view of the Republic Day.
However, keeping all safety measures, the Delhi Police have asked the protesting farmers to send a written application, specifying their proposed routes, the number of tractors and farmers participating in the parade, and the timings. In the meanwhile the Police have assured medical assistance and security during the parade.
Even after eleven rounds of meetings between the government and the protesting farmers’ unions they hit a deadlock on Friday, with both the sides hardening their positions, and not even reaching a decision on the date of next meeting. Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar has clarified that there are no problems in the farm laws but the government still offered to suspend them as a sign of respect for farmers. In fact the Minister thanked the protesting farmer unions for cooperation and told them that the government is ready for another meeting if they want to discuss proposal on suspending laws. The farmers on the other hand, have turned down the proposal offered by the Union government of keeping the laws on hold for 18 months while its special committee continues negotiations. They have also rejected the committee named by the Supreme Court, saying all its members are pro-government. One of the committee members had already quit.
The farmers’ union is adamant and wants a complete repeal of the laws, which they say will shrink their income and leave them at the mercy of corporate. They also want a legal guarantee about the continuation of the Minimum Support Price, which they fear will be discontinued after a point. The effort is to bring down the government to its knees, which looks far too stretched at this moment. The Union government has made it amply clear that it would not repeal the laws. It has also promised only a written guarantee for the support prices it offers the farmers. The Centre has said the three laws are a major reform in the farm sector and will help farmers increase their income by allowing them to sell at competitive prices to corporates and removing middlemen who eat away the major profit share of the farmers.
The Delhi Police Sunday proposed four routes from Ghazipur, Singhu, Chilla and Tikri borders for the farmers’ tractor rally on Republic Day. Since November 28 last year, farmers, mostly from Punjab and Haryana, have been protesting against the laws at several Delhi border points, including Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur, and demanding the three legislations be repealed.
Since, Republic Day celebrations also have to take place, the Delhi Police has deployed a five-layer security in and around the city. Over 40,000 police, ITBP and CRPF personnel will be deployed at Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur borders. The matter is tense and Delhi Police also needs to be firm but handle the situation with kid gloves to ensure that there is no violence. It is a tricky job but since Delhi has seen several protests and agitations during the Anti Mandal Commission protests in late 1990s and later the Anna Hazare led-protest a decade ago, it should be mature enough to handle the situation tactfully.
