New Delhi: Farmers can hold protest against the Central laws at Jantar Mantar with between 11 am and 5 pm a day , but no civil disobedience are going to be allowed, the Delhi Police have said. the amount of protesters at the location cannot exceed 206 — 200 from the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha and 6 persons from Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee.
They will be escorted to the situation from Singhu border in buses and that they need to maintain Covid appropriate behaviour and social distancing, the police said, nixing the farmers’ plans to carry a civil disobedience from the Singhu border to Parliament.
Making it clear that there can’t be a repeat of the violence and chaos of January 26 protests, the Delhi Police, during a statement, said: “They (the farmers) have also been advised to not remove any march in sight of Covid restrictions. Delhi Police has put in situ extensive arrangements to make sure that the protest programme remains peaceful.”
The Delhi Police officials have also been asked to stay on high alert amid the farmers’ protests and tight security arrangements are in situ within the city.
Earlier on Wednesday evening, sources said the Arvind Kejriwal government has given permission for a “Kisan Sansad” — farmers’ parliament — today at Jantar Mantar.
To facilitate the protest, the Delhi government also planned changes to its order imposing Covid restrictions under the Delhi Disaster Management Act, sources said. The DDMA guidelines don’t allow any gatherings.
The Samyukt Kisan Morcha, a coalition of farmer unions from across the country formed in November 2020, had brainstormed strategy for the Kisan Sansad at Jantar Mantar.
The Kisan Sansad are going to be held till August 13, when parliament’s Monsoon Session ends, SKM member Dr Darshan Pal said.
“Everything are going to be like Parliament. there’ll be a Speaker, a Deputy Speaker, a coffee break etc. This Parliament will surely happen ,” said Manjit Singh Rai, a member of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Doaba).
The farmers, he said, will court arrest if they’re stopped by the police.
“We have asked farmers to organize themselves to be jailed for up to 6 months. Despite that, there’s eagerness among them to travel for the march,” said Raminder Patiala of SKM.
At Singhu, the police have used cement and concertina to make sure no untoward incidents happen . this means moves to avoid a repeat of the January 26 violence in Delhi following a farmers’ tractor rally.
Farmers are protesting since last November 26 against the three newly enacted farm laws: Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; the Farmers Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and farm Services Act 2020 and therefore the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.
Their leaders and therefore the Centre have held several rounds of talks but the impasse remains.
