Lok Sabha Question No. 93 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-02
Subject: Protesting Farmers
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: K. Muraleedharan, Kumbakudi Sudhakaran, Balubhau (Alias Suresh Narayan) Dhanorkar, Faizal P.P. Mohammed

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 93

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 2 ND  FEBRUARY, 2021/ MAGHA 13, 1942 (SAKA)

## PROTESTING FARMERS

93.   SHRI K. MURALEEDHARAN: SHRI KUMBAKUDI SUDHAKARAN: SHRI BALUBHAU ALIAS SURESH NARAYAN DHANORKAR:

SHRI MOHAMMED FAIZAL P.P.:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether any case has been registered against the farmers protesting the recently passed 'Farm Laws' between September to December, 2020 at Delhi border;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c)  the  reasons  for  use  of  tear  gas  and  resorting  to  Lathi  charge  against protesting farmers by the Delhi Police;

(d) whether the Government is aware about the number of farmers who died or committed suicide in protest at the Delhi border; and

(e) if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

(a) to (e) : 'Public Order' and 'Police' are State subjects as per the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India. The responsibilities of maintaining law and  order, including investigation, registration/ prosecution of crimes, conviction of accused, protection of life and property etc. rest primarily with

## L.S.US.Q NO. 93 FOR 02.02.2021

the  respective  State  Governments.  Central  Government  keeps  a  constant watch on the internal security scenario of the country through its security agencies and responds appropriately to the emergent situation. Among other measures, alerts and advisories are issued to the law enforcement agencies whenever any threat to internal security is perceived. The Central Government also provides Central Armed Police Forces to the States/Union Territories upon request.

In so far NCT of Delhi is concerned, Delhi Police has informed that 39 cases have  been  registered  against  the  farmers  protesting  the  recently  passed 'Farm  Laws'  between  September to December, 2020 at Delhi border. Delhi Police  has also informed that one suicide case has been reported to them during the protest against Farm Laws at the Delhi border.

As regards use of tear gas and resorting to Lathi charge against protesting farmers by the Delhi Police, it has been reported by Delhi Police that at Delhi border,  large  convoys  of  protesting  farmers  in  tractor  trolleys  tried  to furiously force their way and go past Police barricades to enter Delhi to mark their  protest  against  the  recently  enacted  'Farm  Laws'.  They  aggressively resorted to rioting, damage to Government property and used criminal force to  deter public  servants  from the discharge of their duty, thereby  inflicting

## L.S.US.Q NO. 93 FOR 02.02.2021

injuries to the on-duty police personnel. Moreover, social distancing was not followed  by  the  farmers/protestors  and  they  gathered  in  large  numbers without face masks amid Covid-19 pandemic. The farmers' actions left the Delhi Police with no option but to use tear gas, water cannons and mild force to control the crowd.

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