About twenty FIRs lodged, SKM farmer leaders to be held allegedly accountable for the riotous situation in Delhi
The reign of terror let loose by the protesting farmers on tractors of the Republic Day at various locations in Delhi by resorting to violence and massive damage to public property including allegedly raising of a flag other than a national flag at Red Fort, arbitrarily contravening rules and legally prescribed routes has shamed the ongoing peaceful farmers agitation further weakening it which has entered the 64 th day of protest at various borders of Delhi.
The death of a farmer and alleged injuries inflicted on more than 120 police personnel including IPS officers unambiguously speaks of the fact that the tractors rally had gone haywire with unwanted elements having allegedly entered it and angry farmer protestors breaking rules and regulations at various Delhi locations giving up the prescribed routes thus creating mess knowingly.
The damage to DTC buses with tractors hitting them, turning down of heavy vehicles and huge containers, breaking of police cordons at various points resulting in heavy police injuries have only weakened the ongoing farmers movement with police registering more than twenty FIRs till yesterday and the government holding the Samyukta Kisan Sammittee collectively responsible for the violence, injuries to policemen and anarchy like situation in the national capital.
There had been confrontation between police and farmers at several points with police lathi charging the tractor driven farmers for breaking the law but it is said that by and large the police has exercised quite a restraint in Delhi with riotous farmers going haywire at several locations creating a massive riotous situation, assaulting police personnel and damaging public properties. It is said that after the tractors rally went haywire at certain locations like ITO, Redfort areas and several other locations of the national capital the farmers leaders were conspicuous by their absence.
This led to condemnation by even the political parties and leaders who were supporting the farmers movement since beginning with former Congress president Rahul Gandhi saying that violence is not the solution to any problem.
While urging the government to take back the anti farmers law he further added that if anyone gets hurt, the damage will happen to our own country.
The Punjab chief minister Captain Amrinder Singh said that what happened in Delhi is utterly shocking.
The violence by some elements is unacceptable. It will negate the goodwill generated by the agitating farmers till now.
Kisan leaders have disassociated themselves and suspended the Kisan rally he added. He had urged the farmers to vacate Delhi and return to borders.
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor too came out against the violence let loose by the farmers in tractor rally terming the violence as most unfortunate. He said : I had supported the farmers movement since beginning but I cannot condone lawlessness. And on the Republic Day no flag but the sacred Tiranga should fly aloft the Red Fort. Saddened to learn of the death of a protestor n authorities- it resolves nothing and resorting to it reduces the state to the levels of its enemies.
We must resolve this crisis through democratic means not force tweeted Tharoor.
Meanwhile the Aam Admi Party too condemned the violence of the Republic Day but blamed the govt as well. In a statement AAM ADMI PARTY said : We strongly condemn the violence. The movement has been peaceful for the last 2 months.
The farmers leaders have said that those indulged in the violence were not part of the movement and were external elements. Whoever, they were the violence has certainly weakened the movement , AAP which has been supporting the farmers movement said.
Owning the responsibility of what happens Yogendra Yadav said it’s is utterly shameful. I once again appeal to everyone not to resort to violence. Those who violated law n created violence were not the part of the movement since day one. CPM general secretary Sitaram Yachury blaming the central government to have brought the situation to this pass said that the Modi government should repeal the three black laws. Farmers have been protesting peacefully for the last 62 days in cold and 100 kisans have died till date. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said on the occassion of Republic Day SP has taken a resolve to walk with farmers.
The exploitative, oppressive BJP govt now starts counting its days. Meanwhile as per the various news reports the govt has held various Kisan unions spearheading the farmers movement responsible for the violence, assault on police personal, arson, looting and damage to public property on Republic Day as they were the signatories to the agreement with the government ensuring peaceful and lawful conduction of the tractors rally.
Meanwhile in an urgent meeting held yesterday chaired by union home minister Amit Shah paramilitary forces have been called n deployed in the capital and the border areas to stringently deal with lawless situation if any in future.
Pic Amar Ujala
