Farmer leader Balbir Singh Rajewal on Saturday alleged there was a “conspiracy” by the Government and the BJP behind the stone-pelting incident at the Singhu border, but said the farmers would not indulge in any violence despite “provocation”.
He said he expects a record gathering by February 2 at the border points of Delhi, where farmers are protesting against the three recent agriculture laws of the Centre, with a large number of people from various states turning up. “We have been holding a peaceful agitation at Delhi’s borders. The agitation is peaceful today as well,” Rajewal, the president of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Rajewal), told reporters here.
He condemned the violence in Delhi on Republic Day and termed it unfortunate. “People in large numbers from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand are reaching the protest sites,” Rajewal said. “Possibly by February 2, there will again be a record gathering of people at the protest sites,” he said, adding the agitation would remain peaceful.
Claiming that “local people” were with the farmers, Rajewal alleged those behind the Singhu border incident were “BJP and RSS people”. “The government is trying to provoke us for violence. We will not indulge in any violence. We are alert to prevent any violence,” he further stated. Police had fired tear gas and resorted to baton charge Friday to break up a clash between farmers and a large group of men claiming to be local residents who hurled stones at each other at the Singhu border, one of the main protest sites against farm laws.
Talking about the violence during the farmers’ tractor parade on January 26, he said everybody was “shocked” after the Red Fort incident. “We all were shocked because we never thought of it. The Red Fort is the country’s pride,” he said, adding they never had any plan to head towards the monument. Rajewal said that they withdrew the tractor march which otherwise was to go on for 72 hours.
He also condemned the Haryana government for suspending internet services. The Haryana government had suspended mobile internet services in 17 more districts in the state until 5 pm of January 30 “to prevent any disturbance of peace and public order”. The BKU leader also accused the government of trying to mislead people through false propaganda in order to defame the ongoing agitation. Rajewal also appealed to people who are joining the agitation at the Delhi border to keep the protest peaceful and not to get provoked. He also appealed to the Centre to shun its “stubborn attitude” and withdraw the three new farm laws. On the next meeting with the Centre over the issue of farm laws, Rajewal said they will certainly go if called.
