MLAs meet CM over dropping case against Bhatta-Parsaul farmers
In the first week of March, Surajpur court had summoned 20 farmers, who are accused of murder, attempt to murder, disrupting peace, rioting and obstructing government officials on duty. The farmers are to be present at the court on May 14, failing which their properties will be seized, according to the law.
Union minister MP Mahesh Sharma, of Gautam Budh Nagar, Jewar MLA Dhirendra Singh and Dadri MLA Tejpal Nagar met the chief minister on Tuesday morning to discuss the issue of farmers accused of violence in the 2011 Bhatta-Parsaul agitation. The trio demanded that the charges against the farmers who were recently summoned by the Surajpur court be dropped.
“We spoke to CM Yogi and demanded that farmers not be hassled in this case. Already, many of the accused have spent more than two years in custody and there is no point in playing vindictive politics with the farmers,” said Singh.
“Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is committed to the welfare of farmers. We apprised CM Yogi about the current situation and requested him to do alleviate the plight of our farmers who were framed,” Sharma said.
In the first week of March, Surajpur court had summoned 20 farmers, who are accused of murder, attempt to murder, disrupting peace, rioting and obstructing government officials on duty. The farmers are to be present at the court on May 14, failing which their properties will be seized, according to the law.
Bhatta and Parsaul, the two hamlets of Gautam Budh Nagar, were engulfed in sporadic violence in 2011 as then Mayawati government had allegedly tried to seize farmers’ lands for setting up special economic zones in the area. At least two farmers and two police personnel were killed and then district magistrate suffered a bullet injury.
In 211, the police had booked 32 farmers for violence against state officials and police personnel under sections 147, 148, 149, 153, 302, 307, 336 and 332 of the IPC.
During the agitation, Singh was a Congress activist and had attracted media spotlight after he ferried Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on his motorcycle to the two villages. After his victory in the recent UP assembly polls, farmers are hoping for a favourable outcome.
Singh, after meeting CM Yogi, has assured farmers that they will not be made a victim of vindictive politics and the state government will ensure that all charges against them are dropped.
“I have, time and again, assured farmers that I am standing with them in this battle. This was not a violent incident but a farmers’ revolution for their rights. Even during the assembly elections, we were committed to ensuring justice to the farmers of Bhatta and Parsaul,” said Singh.
“Yogi assured us that farmers’ woes will be over soon and the state government will do what it can to drop the case against them. He also asked the chief secretary to prepare a detailed report on the issue immediately,” said Singh.
