New Delhi: Delhi Police stepped up security, put up cemented barricades and deployed more personnel at the Delhi-Haryana border ahead of the farmers’ call to stage a protest at Jantar Mantar in the national capital on Monday, news agency ANI reported.
According to the report, the protest is set to be staged in the national capital on Monday for which the farmers have started to arrive in the city.
It is to be noted that earlier, to press for their pending demands, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) – an umbrella body of farmers –announced the beginning of its 75-hour sit-in in Lakhimpur Kheri of Uttar Pradesh from Thursday (August 18).
Notably, SKM is an umbrella group comprising around 40 farm outfits, primarily demanding the proper implementation of minimum support price (MSP) for the crops.
Earlier on July 31, the farmers in Punjab had blocked the railway track at Vallah in Amritsar and Bathinda and protested at Shambhu toll plaza in Ambala, Panchkula’s Barwala and Kaithal’s Cheeka against the Union government for not fulfilling their demands.
Rakesh Tikait Detained by Delhi Police
Meanwhile, farmer leader Rakesh Tikait was detained by the Delhi Police while entering the national capital to take part in the protest against unemployment on Sunday, news agency PTI reported.
According to a Delhi Police official, Tikait was stopped at Ghazipur while he was on his way to Jantar Mantar.
"Thereafter, he was detained and taken to Madhu Vihar police station where the police spoke to him and requested him to return," the official said.
Tikait, the national spokesperson for the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) and a prominent face of the SKM, alleged that the Delhi police was working at the behest of the Centre.
"The Delhi Police working at the behest of the government cannot suppress the voice of the farmers. This arrest will bring a new revolution. This struggle will continue till the last breath. Won't stop, won't get tired, won't bow down," Tikait tweeted in Hindi.
Condemning Tikait’s detention, Delhi minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Gopal Rai tweeted, "Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait was on his way to the employment movement but was stopped by the police at the border itself. This is very despicable."
The SKM and other farmers' bodies will be organising a 'mahapanchayat' at the Jantar Mantar, passing through the jurisdiction of outer district, including Ghazipur border in Ghaziabad.
"In this connection, adequate deployment of local police and outside force will be made in the area of Outer District at Tikri border, major intersections, along the railway tracks and metro station to avoid any untoward incident. Moreover, a full proof law and order arrangement has already been issued in this regard," Sameer Sharma, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer Delhi), said.