Farmers clash at Delhi doors
New Delhi, October 2
Festering problems in the agriculture sector today resulted in thousands of farmers clashing with the police on the Delhi-UP border while attempting to force their way into the capital, even as the Centre assured them a decent look into their demands.
The police used tear gas shells and water cannons to prevent farmers from ramming tractor-trailers into barricades at the Ghazipur crossing. Vehicular traffic on the busy Delhi-Meerut Expressway remained paralysed.
The police action attracted criticism, with Opposition parties saying the farmers were on their way to raise genuine grievances, but were subjected to harsh measures.
Under the banner of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), farmers had started arriving at the entry point to Delhi since Monday evening. This morning, the police blocked them from proceeding towards Rajghat, the proposed site of protest.
A Central team, led by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, held talks with a BKU delegation where certain assurances were made. Later, Minister of State for Agriculture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and UP Minister Lakshmi Narayan Singh reached the Delhi border to pacify the agitating farmers.
The BKU later said the Centre had assured it would file a review petition against the National Green Tribunal order banning 10-year-old diesel vehicles and include farmers in the committee formed by UP for linking MNREGA to farm work. They also sought budget announcement of cost-plus 50 per cent minimum support price for rabi crops, firm measures for procurement and advising states to ensure fair prices for farm produce.
They called for an early meeting of the GST Council to fix 5 per cent tax for all products used for agriculture and a law to prevent import of crops produced in surplus.
BKU chief Naresh Tikait, however, said the farmers were “not satisfied” and would hold consultations before deciding the future course of action.
The Delhi Police denied any lathicharge, saying seven cops got injured while trying to control farmers who insisted on entering on tractor-trailers, banned in the city. — TNS
Talks held, assurances made, ‘no progress’
A Central team, led by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, held talks with a BKU delegation where certain assurances were made
The BKU claimed the Centre promised to file a review petition on NGT order banning 10-year-old diesel vehicles, besides including farmers on the panel formed by UP Government for linking MNREGA to farm work. It later said it was “not satisfied”.
