New Delhi: As thousands of farmers march towards Delhi for a mega protest, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government has rejected the Centre’s proposal to turn a stadium into a temporary jail to confine them. The Arvind Kejriwal government has said the farmers’ demands are genuine and added that every citizen has the right to peaceful protest.
In order to maintain law and order, around 10,000-15,000 police personnel, including reserve forces, have been deployed at the Singhu, Tikri, and Ghazipur borders. Additionally, the police were also planning to convert the Bawana stadium in northwest Delhi into a temporary jail. however, the demand was rejected by the Delhi government. Delhi Government Home Minister Kailash Gehlot said, “The demands of the farmers are genuine. It is the constitutional right of every citizen to make a peaceful protest. It is therefore incorrect to arrest the farmers…”
Restrictions have been imposed by the police in Delhi under Section 144 of CrPC for a month, starting from Tuesday. This decision has been taken in light of the farmers’ protest call, with the aim of prohibiting any unlawful gathering. The prohibitory orders, which will be in effect until March 12, ban the organization, convening, or participation in any procession, demonstration, rally, or march on foot for political, social, or any other purpose within the limits of Delhi. The police have justified these orders by stating that there is an imminent risk of widespread tension, public nuisance, social unrest, and the potential for violence due to the participants of the march threatening to enter Delhi. To tackle the protesters and their modified tractors, the police have procured equipment such as belt cutters.