New Delhi: Keeping in mind the violence that took place during the tractor parade at Red Fort on January 26, the Delhi Police has made elaborate security arrangements in view of the farmer protests to be held at the Jantar Mantar from Thursday. The DCP of Head Quarter Security, has issued instructions to all the policemen who have been deployed on duty on Thursday (July 22) bring in their khaki uniforms and that they would also be provided anti-riot gear. Also, those police personnel who are on leave will need to be on standby and in case of emergency will need to report to the police headquarters within an hour.
All policemen and officers posted in the Security Unit of Delhi Police have also been instructed that their personal and official mobile numbers must not be turned off under any circumstances. Both these numbers should be fully operational and that they will have to answer each and every call. Apart from this, the in-charge of the equipment store has also been instructed to provide anti-riot gear to the policemen. Apart from this, instructions have also been given to all the PSOs that they will arrange vehicles to take the policemen to the Parliament Street Police Station. Along with this, two companies (200 jawans) of police personnel will be on standby mode with anti riot gear.
Read: Farmers plan protests at Jantar Mantar on Thursday
"I, along with others (protesting farmers) will leave for the Singhu border, and then will go to Jantar Mantar. We will hold 'Kisan Sansad' at Jantar Mantar. We will monitor Parliament proceedings. The farmers' strike will continue from 11 am to 5 pm and the farmers will be dropped back at the Singhu border by buses. We will decide the next strategy after reaching Jantar Mantar," said Rakesh Tikait, in a special conversation with ETV Bharat in Haryana's Sonipat.
Meanwhile, Congress MPs Deepender Singh Hooda and Pratap Singh Bajwa have given a suspension of business notice in Rajya Sabha on Thursday on the issue of farmers' agitation, under rule 267 of the Rajya Sabha proceedings.
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) MPs held placards against Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar at the Parliament premises, while, Punjab Congress MPs led by Rahul Gandhi have staged a protest in front of Gandhi Statue, over the three farm laws.
Read: No written permission to farmers for protest till now: Delhi Police
The Delhi Police has given permission to 200 farmers to hold demonstrations at Jantar Mantar. Taking lessons from the violence that took place on 26 January, the police were not lax in their security arrangements this time. Apart from Delhi Police, all other units have also been asked to be on standby mode so that they can be easily mobilized if needed. Orders have also been issued to the policemen posted in the security unit to be on alert mode for 24 hours. Farmers have said that each of these 200 farmers will carry identity cards and will reach Delhi in buses escorted by the police
Farmers are holding the demonstration against the three contentious farm laws passed by the Central government in 2020. According to the Delhi police, the farmers have been allowed to hold their protest peacefully at the Jantar Mantar and have been strictly informed against marching towards the Parliament. All security arrangements have been put in place as farmers are expected to reach the protesting site by 11:30 AM. Already, a batch of 200 farmers in 5 buses have departed to Delhi's Jantar Mantar from Singhu border, sources said.
Read: Listen to farmers or face war, Tikait warns Govt
"Around 2,500 Delhi police officials along with 3,000 paramilitary personnel will remain deployed at Singhu border on Thursday. Apart from this, anti-riot force, water cannons and tear gas are on standby to make all efforts to stop the anti-social elements among the farmers from crossing over into Delhi forcefully, similar to what happened on Republic Day this year," police sources had said.
Earlier, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of farmer unions, had planned that around 200 farmers will protest outside Parliament every day from July 22 during the monsoon session. The monsoon session of Parliament started on Monday (July 19) and is scheduled to conclude on August 13. So far, several negotiations were held between the Centre and farmer leaders to break the deadlock between the two parties.
