Govt turns up heat on farmers to end protest, high drama at Ghazipur as Tikait takes do or die route

Thursday saw a visibly different approach from the government in its handling of the months long farmers' protest as it issued orders asking them to vacate their protest sites by midnight, failing which police would be free to evict them. Of all the protest sites around Delhi, the Ghazipur border was the most tensed and some police action against farmers was also reported there.

Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait, who has been protesting with his supporters at Ghazipur border, refused to surrender before the police and said their protest will continue until the government accepts their demand. Rakesh Tikait also started a hunger strike in protest of government action.

On Friday, the Kisan Mahapanchayat will hold a meeting in Muzaffarpur to dicuss Thursday's developments at Ghazipur border.

Meanwhile, pleas have also been filed in the Supreme Court and the Delhi High Court seeking setting up of a commission to probe the Republic Day violence, restrain media from branding farmers as "terrorists" and removal of Delhi Police Commissioner for allegedly having failed to ensure law and order in the national capital, among others.

Situation tense at Ghazipur border as Rakesh Tikait refuses to vacate site after UP government's order. Heavy police deployment in the area. @Ankit_Tyagi01 and @Rahulshrivstv report live

Watch #6PMPrime LIVE now#Farmers #FarmersProtest pic.twitter.com/eFsX7XFxgT — IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) January 28, 2021

Here are the top 10 developments from today:

1) The Ghaziabad administration today issued an order asking farmers at Ghazipur border to end their protest and vacate UP Gate. Issuing an ultimatum, the administration said the farmers' protest is causing "nuisance" to the public and if farmers don't vacate the site, police and law enforcing agencies will be free to take necessary lawful actions to evict them.

The order came soon after the UP government instructed all DMs and SPs to end farmers' protest in their districts and clear the protest sites.

2) Responding to the ultimatum, BKU leader Rakesh Tikait said he would "commit suicide" but not end the protest.

"I will commit suicide but won't end protest until the farm bills are repealed," Rakesh Tikait said. He also claimed that his life is under threat and that some armed goons were sent to their protest site.

"Will kill myself if these laws are not rolled back," says an emotional Rakesh Tikait, refuses to end his protest. @Ankit_Tyagi01 and @KumarKunalmedia report live from Ghazipur border.

Watch #6PMPrime LIVE now #Farmers #FarmersProtest #TractorRally #GhazipurBorder pic.twitter.com/2N93ODJTpK — IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) January 28, 2021

3) During the day, a confrontation also build up at the UP Gate in Ghazipur bordering Delhi with heavy security deployed. Farmers' leaders alleged that the administration deprived them of basic civic facilities and cut power and water supply.

Frequent power cuts were witnessed in the evening at the protest site at Ghazipur border where Rakesh Tikait and his union members have been protesting since November 28.

4) Slamming the Uttar Pradesh Police action of trying to forcibly evict protesting farmers at Ghazipur border, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, a conglomerate of 41 farmers' unions, hailed farmers' leaders like Rakesh Tikait, Tajinder Virk and KK Ragesh for resisting police behaviour peacefully.

The Morcha alleged that "RSS-BJP sponsored people" came to the Ghazipur protest site but the farmers' leaders urged the people to remain peaceful against "government's attempts to sabotage" their protest.

The SKM also condemned the eviction of protesters at Palwal and accused police of "instigating locals and flared up divisive sentiments".

5) The central government has extended deployment period of four companies of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) in Ghaziabad till February 4 to maintain law and order situation in view of Farmers' protest. Their deployment was supposed to end on January 28.

6) Meanwhile, the Delhi Police Crime Branch has taken over the investigation into the violence that broke out at the Red Fort, ITO and seven other places during farmers' tractor march on Republic Day. Sources say the special cell of Delhi Police will assist the crime branch in investigating these cases.

Apart from this, the number of FIRs filed in regards to the Republic Day violence has risen to 33.

7) The Delhi Police has also issued lookout notices against 44 people to prevent them from leaving the country.

8) On Thursday, two farmers' unions -- the Kisan Mahapanchayat and Bhartiya Kisan Union (Lok Shakti) -- withdrew support from the farmers' protest. With this, the number of farmers' union who have pulled out of the protest has reached four. BKU (Bhanu) and Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Sangathan had announced their decision on Wednesday.

9) The farmers' protest has reached the Supreme Court again with two pleas being filed on Thursday. In one of the pleas, the petitioner has argued that a commission headed by retired Supreme Court judge should inquire into the violence that broke out during farmers' tractor march on Republic Day. The second plea urged the court to direct the media to not declare farmers as "terrorists" without furnishing any evidence.

On the other hand, a plea was also filed in the Delhi High Court seeking to remove people "squatting under the garb of farmers' agitation" and clear all roads and public places. The plea sought direction to remove the Delhi Police Commissioner from his position with immediate effect and punish all police officers who allegedly failed in discharging their duties relating to the Red Fort incident on the Republic Day.

10) Sixteen political parties have come out in support of the protesting farmers and announced that they would be boycotting the President's address to Parliament on the first day of the Budget Session on Friday.

(With inputs from agencies)