Government Finally Relents; Allows Farmers March To Enter Delhi, Protest To Be Held In Burari

After nearly two days of standoffs at the borders, the Delhi Chalo march of farmers from Punjab and Haryana have been allowed to enter the national capital.

The Delhi Police would make proper arrangements for the systematic movement of farmers from the borders of Haryana to lead them to the designated place of protest in North Delhi's Burari area.

Reuters

They will be escorted to Nirankari ground in Burari for carrying on their protests against the Centre's Farm Laws.

Permission granted

"After discussion with farmer leaders, the protesting farmers have been permitted inside Delhi to hold peaceful protest at Nirankari ground in Burari. Delhi Police appeals to them to maintain peace," said Eish Singhal PRO Delhi police.

Earlier the agitating farmers had entered into a confrontation with the Delhi Police and there was mild lathi-charge and some rounds of tear gas shells used besides water cannons to push the farmers from Singhu and Tikri borders along Delhi-Haryana.

Reuters

Angry farmers, who were denied entry into the national capital had managed to break the first layer of barricading, at the border.

Plumes of smoke were seen as security personnel used multiple rounds of tear gas to disperse the protesting farmers at the Singhu border.

Earlier, the Delhi Government had rejected the request by Delhi Police to convert nine stadiums into temporary prisons, in view of the farmers' protest.

AFP

"The demand of the farmers is legitimate. The Centre must accept the demand made by the farmers. To put them behind the jail is not the solution. Every citizen in the country has the right to protest in a non-violent way...That is why we reject the demand made by Delhi Police to convert the stadiums into makeshift jails," the Delhi government said in a statement.

Delhi CM came out in support

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had come out in support of Punjab farmers and their protest against the Centre's recently passed farm laws, saying that peaceful protest was a Constitutional right and the use of water cannons against them was a crime.

AFP

Farmers groups, including women, continued their march towards Delhi while protesting and raising slogans on the main highway in Sirsa. Farmers are headed toward the national capital as part of their protest march against the Centre's farm laws amid heavy security deployment.

While the government said the three laws will do away with middlemen, enabling farmers to sell their produce in the commercial markets, protestors fear that this could lead to the government not buying produce at guaranteed prices, thereby disrupting their timely payments.