Police action against farmers: ‘BJP has no face to say Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan’  

While the ruling BJP and its ministers have been paying rich tributes to Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri—both both of whom hailed farmers—on their birth anniversaries today, it has come under scathing criticism for use of police force against peaceful farmers at Delhi-UP border.

“Why have we been stopped here (at UP-Delhi border)? The rally was proceeding in a disciplined manner. If we don't tell our government about our problems, then whom do we tell? Do we go to Pakistan or Bangladesh?” Naresh Tikait, president Bharatiya Kisan Union, was quoted as saying by ANI.

The protesting farmers have been holding a Kisan Kranti Yatra in favour of their long-standing demands including unconditional loan waiver, clearing of dues by sugar mills, higher prices for crops, free electricity for farms and a cut in diesel prices. Police used tear gas, water cannons and rubber bullets to disperse protesting farmers after they tried to break the barricades to enter Delhi. The farmers wanted to go to Mahatma Gandhi’s samadhi at Rajghat to continue their protest.

Even though Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, MoS Ministry of Agriculture, described the protests as “motivated”, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that "Farmers should be allowed to enter Delhi. Why are they not being allowed to enter Delhi? This is wrong. We are with the farmers."

Slamming the Modi government over the handling of the farmers' protest, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said: “On the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the Modi government has shown that it is no different from the pre-independence British government in India. British government then used to exploit the farmers and today the Modi government is firing tear gas shells at farmers.”

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav also expressed solidarity with the protesting farmers, saying: “This (the BJP-led) government has not fulfilled the promises it made to farmers, so it is all but natural that farmers would protest. It is unfortunate and we fully support the farmers.”

Expressing anguish over brute use of police force against the farmers, many conscientious citizens took to Twitter and criticised the state and Central government. Here’s a collection of reactions:

Farmers from all corners of Uttar Pradesh walked to Delhi during the Kisan Kranti Yatra

The Kisan Kranti Yatra, which began from Tikait Ghat in Haridwar on September 23, was joined by farmers from various parts of Uttar Pradesh. They came on foot, in buses and tractor trolleys. They carried banners of Bhartiya Kisan Union, which gave the call for the march to press for a series of demands.

"We are not seeking any alms from the government. We want our right," said Harmik Singh, a farmer who came from Meerut.

Farmers are in distress because of high electricity prices and fuel rates shooting through the roof, he said. "Aap ko 500 rupiya ka gas theek lagta hai? (Does LPG price of ₹500 sound right to you," he asked.

Another farmer claimed over 3 lakh peasants were marching towards Rajghat.

With agency inputs