Tension at farm protest sites as forces build up

Police move in to evict protesters from Ghazipur, increase deployment and dig trenches at Singhu

NEW DELHI/GHAZIABAD: Security forces dug trenches, put up barricades, and bolstered numbers at farmer protest sites on Delhi’s borders on Thursday, as tensions simmering since a violent Republic Day tractor rally threatened to boil over at Ghazipur on the eastern fringe of the Capital, where authorities issued an ultimatum to defiant cultivators, who refused to budge.

Cracks have started to appear in the 64-day-old protest, which has lost momentum after the deadly turn of events on January 26 when farmer groups broke through barricades, clashed violently with police, ran riot on the Capital’s streets, and stormed the Red Fort, hoisting the Nishan Sahib, the flag of the Sikhs, on its ramparts.

Thursday’s standoff began in the afternoon when Ghaziabad additional district magistrate (city) Shailendra Kumar Singh asked protesters at UP Gate to end their two-month-long stir and vacate the spot at the earliest, or face penal action.

The order came hours after protesters said power and water supply to the site were cut off, and hundreds of policemen

know, passing through various districts of the state. The people will be able to have a close look at the tableau amidst chanting of Jai Shri Ram and showering of flower petals,” the chief minister said, according to the statement.

Director (information and public relations) Shishir and additional chief secretary (ACS) (information) Navneet Sehgal presented the two-foot-high trophy to Yogi on their return to Lucknow from Delhi.

Shishir said the achievement was the result of teamwork and the combined efforts of the government and the people of the state and made a special mention of the lyricist Virendra Singh, whose song gained maximum appreciation from the jury. Shishir said this was the second year in a row that UP had won a prize for its tableau. Last year, it won the second prize.

Additional chief secretary Navneet Sehgal said the tableau displayed a glimpse of Ayodhya’s rich heritage and culture.

“Our tableau showcased the ancient heritage of the temple town, revered by countless people across the country,” he stated. The Ayodhya tableau also included snapshots of Deepotsav, the annual festival of lights of Ayodhya, vignettes from the Ramayana, other murals depicting Nishadraj embracing Lord Ram, Ahalya’s salvation, Hanuman bringing Sanjeevani booti, the JatayuRam dialogue and Ashoka Vatika. The tableau was prepared under the supervision of Vivid Company and artists of Mathura led by Sanjay Sharma, said the statement. In total, 32 tableaux -- 17 from states and union territories, nine from Union ministries, departments and paramilitary forces, and six from the defence ministry -were part of this year’s parade on Rajpath, according to a PTI report.