Protesting Farmers Take Over Some Toll Plazas in UP

New Delhi:Protesting farmers took over some toll plazas in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana and stopped authorities from collecting taxes as they intensified protest against three new agricultural laws on December 12.

Rajvir Bhati of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Bhanu), who was leading a group of farmers who stalled collection of toll tax at Chhajarsi Toll Plaza at Pilakhwa in Uttar Pradesh's Hapur district, claimed farmers in different districts of Western Uttar Pradesh have stopped toll tax collections.

"The government is playing with fire by taking this agitation lightly. Farmers from across the country after 30 years have hit the streets. And they are going to bow down. So, if the government thinks that we will get tired and our protest will weaken, then it is mistaken. Our agitation will keep intensifying. Our non-violent protest should not be taken for granted," he told Newsclick.

A young graduate from Bametha in Ghaziabad, Sanju Singh was quite aggressive in ensuring that no vehicle is asked to pay tax at the toll plaza. He said he was protesting because he foresaw a bleak future.

"My father is a farmer and agricultural produce is the only source of income of my family. If the markets are handed over to private players without any regulation for the MSP (minimum support price), it is farmers who will be exploited. Agricultural farming is already a loss- making business, the three laws will prove the last nail in the coffin," he added.

Asked if it was possible for the government to purchase agricultural produce of farmers and ensure MSP, he said the farmers were not at all demanding that the government purchase it.

"The demand is very simple: bring MSP under the ambit of law so that whosoever purchases foodgrains from farmers, the purchase takes place not below MSP," he said.

Asked how the deadlock would end because the government was ready for amendments but farmers were demanding nothing less than a roll-back of the laws, BKU leader Rakesh Tikait said the government should repeal the laws only then farmers will return.

Asked if their protests have been ‘hijacked’ as claimed by government and the media after placards and hoardings came up at Tikri border, which has also been blocked by agitators, demanding release of political prisoners, he said instead of playing dirty tricks, the government should listen to farmers.

"There is no anti-India element in our protest. We are united and this agitation is in our control. The government is trying toweaken our agitation, but we will not let this happen.If government wants to hold talks, we are ready; but we will first discuss repeal of three new farm laws. I want to tell people in power that you have to accept our demands by hook or by crook. The farmers who have come here will not return," he said.

The farmers will not let the government, which has come to the negotiation table after seven years, go without accepting their demands, he said

"If the government is adamant, so are we. Is it an autocracy that the government won't relent," Tikait said.

Cut up with the government for not being consulted on the farm laws, Tikait said: "Industrial policies are made after consulting industrialists, but farm legislations are brought without taking stakeholders into confidence. If the government wants farmers' welfare and bring reform in the agricultural sector, we will sit together with the government representative and come up with a good draft Bill, which will be passed and accepted by everyone," he added.

Meanwhile, the toll plaza at Karnal in Haryana was also freed of all taxes by agitating farmers on Saturday. The Uttar Pradesh government had deployed the Provincial Armed Constabulary to deal with the possibility of untoward incidents.