Devendra Pradhan, the farmer who broke the police barricade at the Delhi-UP border with his tractor during the Bhartiya Kisan Union’s Kisan Kranti Yatra on October 2 has turned into a hero for farmers of his area. Pradhan was felicitated in his hometown of Chaugama area of Baghpat district.
Pradhan was not only appreciated for his act but offered a special garland of currency notes during a felicitation function held in his honour at Chaugama. The village elders showered praise on him and appreciated the way he broke the police barricading with his tractor.
The felicitation programme for Pradhan and other protesting farmers was convened at the house of Ch Raghuveer Singh in Chaugama of district Baghpat on Wednesday evening. Many farmers of Chaugama had participated in the Yatra including Pradhan while some of them sustained injuries during clashes with the police at UP gate on Monday.
Narrating the entire incident to the gathering, Pradhan said the Delhi Police tried to stop farmers by using water cannons, firing rubber bullets, and using tear gas.
Village elders and BKU leaders, while addressing the gathering, called upon farmers to unite cutting across the barriers of caste, religion, and political parties.
A panchayat was also organised at Tirkha Nath Shiv Temple in Chaprauli of the district where people condemned the act of Delhi Police.
BKU`s divisional vice-president Surendra Singh, who also sustained injuries in the confrontation with police, also participated in the panchayat. Emphasizing on the unity of farmers he said, “This is the only way to prevent farmer community from attacks of the government.”
He blasted the government for bringing more troubles for farmers by framing new laws for different departments. He claimed that the consequences of this episode would be seen in the 2019 election and appealed to the farmers to unite.
