Two farmers’ unions withdrew from the protest following yesterday’s violence in Delhi

Last updated on February 6th, 2021 at 09:00 am

On Wednesday, Two farmers’ unions pulled out from the ongoing protests against the three farm laws, a day following the tractor rally that turned violent in the National Capital on 26th Jan (Republic Day).

After a many discussions with the farmers’ union leaders, the Delhi Police came to a consensus to permit them to hold a peaceful tractor parade on 26 Jan at a selected route near the three borders. However things went out of control yesterday as many farmers broke barriers and changed routes to enter the National Capital.

Speaking to journalists, Bharatiya Kisan Union president Thakur Bhanu Pratap Singh expressed that he was profoundly grieved by the violence that occurred during the tractor parade yesterday, announcing that his union is withdrawing from the farmer’s protest, ANI reported.

All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee head V.M. Singh also stated that they won’t be carrying on the protests with people whose paths are different.

I wish them the very best, however, V. M. Singh and his Kisan Mazdoor Sangathan are immediately pulling out from this farmer’s protest. This is our union’s decision and not of the All India Kisan Mazdoor Sangarsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC). 

On Tuesday, the tractor parade was to highlight the demands of the farmers and conduct a peaceful rally, but unfortunately, the crowd broke barricades, overturned vehicles, or clashed with the Delhi Police. Moreover, several incidents of stampede, violence, and vandalism were reported from various parts of the national capital.

He further alleged that the head of Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) Rakesh Tikait had not raised the issues of Uttar Pradesh farmers in meetings with the Union Ministry. ‘Tikait attended around five or six meetings, not once he raised the issues of UP farmers’, Singh added.

Farmers have been challenging the three farm bills since Nov 26, however, after the violence that occurred on 26 Jan, V. M. Singh expressed “we didn’t come here (Delhi) to malign or make martyrs of ourselves and our nation. We came to fight for our rights for MSP and not for hooliganism”, he added.