Delhi Govt Rejects Centre's Proposal To Turn Bawana Stadium Into Jail To Detain Farmers 

The Delhi government has rejected the Centre's proposal to convert Bawana stadium into a jail to detain protesting farmers.

The Delhi government has rejected the Centre's proposal to convert Bawana stadium into a jail to detain protesting farmers.

Source : AAP

The ruling Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi has refused to convert the Bawana stadium into a makeshift jail as proposed by the Centre in the wake of the farmers' 'Delhi Chalo' march stating that the 'demands of the farmers are genuine'.

Delhi Home Minister Kailash Gehlot said, "The demands of the farmers are genuine. It is the constitutional right of every citizen to make a peaceful protest. It is therefore incorrect to arrest the farmers."

"The Central government, in fact, should invite them over for talks and try to find a solution of their genuine problems. Farmers are our 'annadata' and treating them in this way by arresting them would be like rubbing salt into their wounds. We cannot be a party to this decision of the the central government. Hence, approval cannot be given for converting a stadium into a jail."

The farmers from Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana headed towards Delhi on Tuesday after Monday's talks with the Centre ended in a stalemate. Massive secutity arrangement and several restrictions were in place including Section 144 of the CrPC to prevent farmers for entering Delhi and create a chaos that could hinder normal life. However, commuter faces problems as the retrictions triggered massive traffic snarls at several points. 

What started out peacefully, soon turned chaotic and police resorted to firing tear gas shells at Haryana's Shambhu border. But, this time around the farmers came with a preparation to stay put for a longer time and according to intelligence inputs accessed by ABP Live. 

To prevent the farmers from reaching the national capital, police and paramilitary forces were stationed at key Delhi borders like Tikri, Singhu, and Ghazipur, installing cement blocks and pickets with nails along access routes.

The Delhi Police, as a precautionary measure, imposed section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) citywide and fortified the borders.