Lives affected by farmers' protests: NHRC seeks reports from Centre, Haryana, UP, Delhi, Rajasthan

Ravi S Singh
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, September 14

On the back of several complaints from the public of their business, livelihood, and daily life being adversely affected by the ongoing farmers’ protests against the three central agriculture laws, the National Human Rights Commission on Tuesday stepped in seeking reports from the Centre and States, including Haryana, on the action taken in the matter.

Besides, it has issued notice to the district magistrate, Jhajjar in Haryana, in the case of alleged gang rape of a human rights activist at the protest site and asked a reply to it by October 10. In effect, it has issued a fresh reminder to the official to file a report.

“No report was received from the DM, Jhajjar, regarding the payment of compensation to the family of the deceased,” the Commission said.

Besides, the other state governments that the commission issued notices to are Delhi, Rajasthan and poll-bound Uttar Pradesh seeking reports on the inconvenience caused and  grievances of the general public due to farmers’ protests.

The farmers have been picketing and staging indefinite sit-ins at a number of places in these states, including the outskirts of Delhi.

“The National Human Rights Commission has received several complaints regarding the ongoing farmers' protest,” the commission said.

Accordingly, the commission issued notices to the chief secretaries and police chiefs of state governments.

Outlining rationale behind the notices, the commission said that there are allegations of adverse impact on the industrial units, seriously affecting more than 9,000 micro, medium, and large companies.

Allegedly, transportation is also adversely impacted, causing the commuters, patients, physically challenged people and senior citizens to suffer due to the heavy congestion on roads.

There are also reports that people have to travel long distances to reach their destinations due to the ongoing farmers’ agitation and barricades have been put on the borders.

There is an allegation that there is a breach of the Covid protocols by the agitating farmers at the protest site. There is a further allegation that the inhabitants are not being allowed to move out of their houses due to the blockade of the passage.

“Since the agitation involves the issue of human rights, the right to agitate in a peaceful manner is also to be respected. The commission needs to take care of various human rights issues.”

Besides, the commission asked the Institute of Economic Growth (IEG) to examine and submit a report on the adverse impact of the farmers’ agitation on industrial and commercial activities/production and disruption of transport services on commercial and normal consumers, including inconvenience and additional expenditure, etc.

The National Disaster Management Authority, Union Ministry of Home Affairs, and Union Ministry of Health have been asked to submit reports with respect to the adverse impact of farmers’ agitation on various aspects and observance of Covid protocols at the protests sites.

Also, the commission has requested the Delhi School of Social Work, University of Delhi, is to depute teams to conduct a survey and assess and submit a report on the disruption of livelihood, lives of people, impact on the aged, and infirm persons due to protracted agitation by farmers.  

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