Farmers are ‘annadata’, can't arrest them, Delhi government tells Centre

Security at Delhi borders has been beefed up in view of the farmers' march.

Farmers have a right to protest and it will be incorrect to arrest them, the Delhi government has told the Centre, rejecting its proposal to convert the city’s Bawana Stadium into a make-shift jail.

A multi-layer security cordon has been put around the national capital as farmers from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and some other parts of the country head to Delhi on February 13 in support of their demands.

“It is the Constitutional right of every citizen to make a peaceful protest. It is, therefore, incorrect to arrest the farmers. The Central government infact, should invite them over for talks and try to find a solution of their genuine problems,” the Delhi government said in a letter.

Farmers are “annadata” and arresting them would be like rubbing salt into their wounds, it said.

The Aam Aadmi Party, which is in power in Delhi and Punjab, has come out in support of the protesting farmers and has asked Centre to accept their demands.

“We cannot be a party to this decision of the Central government. Hence, approval cannot be given for converting a stadium into a jail,” the letter said.

The Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, one of the outfits leading the farmer protest, said the “Dilli Chalo” march was not supported by any political party. All parties had neglected farmer interests and were equally to be blamed for their plight, it said.