Number of farmers swells past 10,000 at Ghazipur border

Tribune News Service
Ghazipur, January 29

The smiles have returned in Ghazipur. After two tense days, where police presence had raised the possibility of forceful eviction, the number of farmers swelled upwards 10,000 by Friday afternoon.

After Bhartiya Kisan Union’s national spokesperson Rakesh Tikait dug his heels alleging a conspiracy to attack farmers and called for farmers to come in numbers, they have responded in big numbers.

“This is like January 25 crowd. Cars and Jeeps have replaced the tractors,” said Salim Chaudhary, who is from Jogipura in Saharanpur district.

Hordes of farmers have descended at Ghazipur from Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur, Deoband, Sarsawa, Baghpat and Barot Barot.

“There are a number of farmers from Delhi too. I don’t know the exact number from Uttarakhand but I am told they have also left in large numbers,” he said.

Meanwhile, there has been a steady stream of political leaders to meet Tikait.

Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, Rashtriya Lok Dal’s vice president and former MP Jayant Chaudhary, UPCC president Ajay Kumar Lallu and Delhi Congress leader Alka Lamba have all made an appearance.