Traffic on Chilla border open as one union calls off protest
NEW DELHI/MEERUT: The Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU)’S Bhanu faction on Wednesday called off its 58-day protest against three central farm laws at the Chilla border connecting Delhi and Noida, a day after a tractor rally by farmers in the national capital plunged into chaos.
Traffic on the arterial road, disrupted since early December, was restored late in the evening. The Noida to Delhi carriageway had been closed since the protesters began their demonstration there. The Delhi to Noida carriageway was open.
“What happened yesterday (Tuesday) was unfortunate. We condemn it. Our protest is against the farm laws, but we can’t support those who attacked our police personnel, stormed the Red Fort and hoisted the flag (Nishan Sahib, the flag of the Sikhs),” Begraj Gurjar, the national general secretary of BKU (Bhanu), said.
This is the second time in the past 58 days that BKU’S Bhanu faction has called off their agitation. On December 13, the group’s chief Bhanu Pratap Singh along with many supporters had vacated the Chilla border after their meeting with Union ministers Rajnath Singh and Narendra Singh Tomar. Back then too, that decision created uproar among a section of his supporters. The protest was relaunched within a couple of days.
The decision was taken after a meeting on Wednesday. “We are still against the farm laws and want the government to withdraw it. We will decide on our course of action later. We plan to hold a demonstration at Ramlila Maidan after some time when this protest by farmers is over. We can’t be part of the ongoing protest now,” said Ajab Singh Kasana, vice-president of the group.
By evening, protesters at the Chilla border had started packing up and removing their tents.
“The farmers are leaving and we are removing the barricades so that traffic can be restored. Movement of vehicles will start within an hour,” deputy commissioner of police (east) Deepak Yadav said around 7:30pm.
A group of BKU (Bhanu) leaders, who said they were not happy with the decision by Thakur Bhanu Pratap, called an emergency meeting in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday.
“This is the time when farmers’ movement needs our support. Conspiracy against the movement shows we are on the verge of success. Therefore, we can’t leave the movement now,” Chaudhary Diwakar, who has a support base in Amroha and nearby areas, said.
Diwakar said senior leaders discussed the issue with him on phone before declaring the decision. “I conveyed my disagreement,” he said.
Unlike other places, the tractor rally at Chilla on Republic Day was peaceful. Farmers at the site said they cooperated with the police and did not deviate from the route that was agreed upon.
On Wednesday, there were less than 50 farmers at the border. Those managing the protest said over 1,000 farmers from Uttar Pradesh participated in the tractor rally on Tuesday.
BKU (Bhanu) is not a part of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of farm groups that are organising protests in Singhu and Tikri borders connecting Delhi and Haryana.
Our protest is against the farm laws, but we can’t support those who attacked our police personnel, stormed the Red Fort and hoisted the flag BEGRAJ GURJAR, national general secretary, BKU (Bhanu)