Are AAP Government’s Actions in Favour of Farmers’ Agitation Too Little, Too Late?

Following withdrawal of DTC buses from police duty, questions are being asked if the home department under Arvind Kejriwal officially questioned the police’s fortification move and use of steel batons.

New Delhi: Is the Delhi government really taking a side on the ongoing farmers’ protests? If yes, which side is it on?

Though the Aam Aadmi Party has from the start of the agitation lent its weight to the farmers, just about every one of its action has been called into question by the opposition. The latest instance is its announcement that it has asked the Delhi Transport Corporation to withdraw buses on duty with the Delhi Police and security forces, as these were being used to prevent farmers from coming to Delhi.

AAP leaders seen with farmers

Prior to this, the AAP had wholeheartedly supported the farmers’ agitation. In fact, its Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh was one of the most vociferous in opposing the three Bills when they were discussed in the House. Later, national convener and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal had supported the movement by going to the protest sites on Delhi’s borders, and also refused to create special jails for lodging farmers at the start of their agitation.

Then, when following the January 26 violence the Central government cut the water supply to the protest sites, Kejriwal also declared that his government would make special arrangements. Earlier this month, he declared that there were 115 arrested farmers lodged in various jails of Delhi – which come under his elected government – and that their details would be made available. And then he announced that DTC buses would be withdrawn from police duty.

Questions and accusations

However, these announcements have been met with questions and accusations by other parties, who have alleged that the elected government in Delhi has been saying one thing and doing another.

The first serious accusation against the AAP government came in December, when it implemented the three farm laws in Delhi. Punjab chief minister and Congress leader Amarinder Singh said it was clear that AAP did not want to fight the “draconian legislations”. “Why did you not stand against the Centre by passing your own state legislations like we did in Punjab?” he had asked.

Kejriwal, for his part, claimed that the laws were brought in and implemented by the Centre and that the state governments had no role to play. “The day the President signed the black farm laws, they became effective across the entire country from that day itself,” he argued.

Also read: Rich Farmers, Global Plots, Local Stupidity

Buses withdrawn from police duty

Thereafter, as the protests and talks continued simultaneously, the Delhi government made little efforts to withdraw its men and equipment being used to stall the farmers’ advance to Delhi. On January 26, when the farmers had declared they would carry out the tractor rally, various routes were blocked by Delhi Police by using DTC buses as barricades.

Images of tractors trying to push them out of the way went viral during the protests that day. Out of its nearly 3,700 buses, DTC had given out 576 on `special hire’. Now that the Kejriwal government has declared that it has asked DTC to take these buses back from the Delhi Police, charges are again being levelled of this being only political posturing.

‘What did government do when innocent farmers were being put in jail’

Delhi Congress president Anil Chaudhary retweeted a message by former AAP MLA Alka Lamba, who is now in the Congress, which stated that the withdrawal of buses was only a drama as the Kejriwal government had done nothing when innocent farmers were being arrested and put in jail.

Chaudhary also retweeted a message which asked why the 115 farmers arrested by Delhi police and kept in Tihar jail could not be lodged in special facilities.

Also read: A Farmer Can’t Be Draped in the Tricolour at His Funeral, But a Lynching Accused Can

Did home department question fortification drive?

Another question being raised now is what role the Delhi government has played through its home department, which comes under Kejriwal, to question the various actions of the Central government like embedding long nails, installing concertina wires, putting up concrete walls and digging pits on the main roads leading to the three protest sites at Ghazipur, Tikri and Singhu borders.

This kind of fortification required large amounts of money and manpower. The Delhi government has not revealed who was funding this and if the home department’s permission was sought for any of these actions, or if it has lodged any protest in this regard.

Some political activists have also pointed out that road-rollers, with Public Works Department written on them, have been requisitioned as part of the fortification process. Also, with images of Delhi police personnel carrying steel batons appearing, it is being asked if the home department raised questions regarding these and asked who is funding and promoting them.

The Wire tried to contact AAP chief spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj and national spokesperson Raghav Chadha for their response. A questionnaire has also been sent to Bharadwaj and the story will be updated once they reply.