The Delhi Police on Friday sought permission from Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP government to convert nine stadiums into temporary prisons, in wake of the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march by farmers against Centre’s new farm laws.
Seeking permission Delhi Government rejects the request of Delhi Police seeking to convert nine stadiums into temporary prisons, in view of farmers protest.
Rejecting Delhi Police’s request, Delhi Home Minister Satyendar Jain said in an order on Friday, “The farmers’ demands are justified. The Centre should immediately accept the demands put forth by the farmers. The farmers’ agitation is entirely peaceful.”
“Protesting in a peaceful manner is the democratic right of every Indian citizen. For this, they cannot be put in jails. Thus, the Delhi government is rejecting Delhi Police’s request to convert the stadiums into jails,” said the Delhi Home Minister in his statement on Friday.
This comes a day after CM Kejriwal tweeted in support of Punjab farmers and their protest against the agriculture laws, stating that peaceful demonstration was a Constitutional right. He also added that the use of water cannons against them was a crime.
“All the three farming Bills (now Acts) of the Central government are anti-farmer. Instead of withdrawing these, farmers are being prevented from holding peaceful demonstrations, water cannons are being turned on them. This crime against farmers is absolutely wrong. Peaceful protest is their Constitutional right,” Kejriwal had tweeted.
However, leaders of the Aam Admi Party (AAP), which rules Delhi, objected to any move to jail the farmers.
AAP MLA Raghav Chadha, who is also the party’s national spokesperson, on Friday defended their right to protest and opposed any move to set up temporary prisons for them.