UP cops tell farmers to leave; Ghazipur tense
Protesting farmers are locked in a face-off with the police at the Ghazipur border, as Uttar Pradesh administration has asked the farmers to end their protest and vacate the road by tonight.
A confrontation was building up at the UP Gate in Ghazipur bordering Delhi with heavy security and the Rapid Action Force deployed while frequent power cuts were witnessed in the evening at the protest site, where Bharatiya Kisan Union members, led by Rakesh Tikait, are staying put since November 28. Tikait, the BKU’s national spokesperson, was adamant threatening, “I will commit suicide but won’t end protest until the farm bills are repealed.” He also claimed threat to his life, alleging that armed goons were sent to the protest site. Condemning the Uttar Pradesh government and police for the ultimatum, he said, “No violence has taken place at the Ghazipur border but still the UP government is resorting to policy of suppression. This is the face of the UP government.” The “verbal” communication from the Ghaziabad administration to BKU came after a few farmer unions withdrew their protest against the three central farm laws over the violence in Delhi that left 394 security personnel injured and one protestor dead. “Ghaziabad District Magistrate Ajay Shankar Pandey has communicated to the protestors camping at the UP Gate at Delhi border to vacate the spot by tonight or the administration will remove them,” a district official said. The other two key borders -- Tikri and the epicenter of farmers’ protests, Singhu -- have been placed under heavy security. The police have dug up roads, using JCB machines.
Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday said the party would contest elections in six states - Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat. He made the announcement at the ninth National Council meeting of the Aam Aadmi Party. “Other parties have no vision and that is why they are talking about the past. AAP is the only party talking about the future and has the vision of 21st and 22nd centuries,” Kejriwal said. “In next two years, AAP will be contesting elections in six states - UP, Uttarakhand, Goa, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat,” the AAP national convenor said.