'My son is not a terrorist': Harviri Tewatia

"My son is not a terrorist or a dacoit. He is fighting for the cause of farmers," said Harviri Tewatia, 65, the mother of farmer leader Manvir Singh Tewatia, who is a marked man following the UP government's announcement of a reward for his arrest.

"My son is not a terrorist or a dacoit. He is fighting for the cause of farmers," said Harviri Tewatia, 65, the mother of farmer leader Manvir Singh Tewatia, who is a marked man following the UP government's announcement of a reward for his arrest.

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The state government has blamed Manvir for violence at Bhatta-Parsaul.

Talking to HT on the phone from her village Bhatona in Bulandshahar district on Monday, Harviri condemned the reward and accused the state government of planning to kill him. Harviri said Manvir was in the Border Security Force and quit after two years to start his business. "He set up an iron product unit at Noida and started participating in local political activities. The farmers approached him to fight for their cause," she said.

"Now, the police are harassing Manvir's wife, Nutan, and three children staying at Noida. The district administration has closed the iron unit," she added.

Manvir was elected leader of the Kisan Sangharsh Samiti in August last year.