The Central Government, on the 30th of January, suspended internet services for two days.
The decision to suspend the internet was taken after a clash between the Delhi Police and the protesting farmers at Singhu Border in New Delhi.
On the 29th of January, clashes broke out between farmers and a group of people who came to oust the farmers at the main protest site, the Singhu Border.
The two groups engaged in stone pelting while Delhi Police had to fire multiple rounds of tear gas shells and lathi charge.
During the clash, Delhi Police State House Officer (SHO) Pradeep Paliwal was attacked.
Meanwhile, at Tikri border, a group of people claimed themselves to be locals, tried to get near the spot where the farmers were protesting.
Related to Friday’s clash at the Singhu Border, the Delhi Police arrested 44 people, including the man who attacked the SHO with a sword.
The temporary suspension on internet services are imposed in Singhu, Ghazipur, Tikri and their adjoining areas.
The suspension would continue till 11:00 P.M., of the 31st of January to “maintain public safety and averting public emergency.”
This is the second time in a week that the Central Government suspended internet services in the wake of the protesting farmers.
The first suspension was imposed on the 26th of January, after the Republic Day tractor march violence.
Rakesh Tikait, the Bharatiya Kisan Union spokesperson, spoke about the suspension and said, “If the administration is thinking that by suspending internet services they will be able to stop the movement, they are grossly mistaken. The more they want to muzzle farmers’ voices, the larger the protest will go.”
The farmers of Haryana and Punjab are protesting against the three farm laws.
The agitation against the three laws started on the 25th of November.
The Parliament passed the three laws – The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act 2020 – amid large scale protests from the Opposition and farmer unions.
According to the passed bills, the Minimum Support Price (MSP,) area of trading would be under the purview of the Indian Government.
The reason behind the farmers protest is their fear of being at the mercy of corporates or zamindars for crop prices. The new bills would also demolish the Minimum Support Price (MSP) advantages for farmers.
On the 30th of January, the protesting farmers entered the 66th day of protest.
Stay tuned for further updates.
