Amid the ongoing farmers’ protest against Centre’s farm laws and violence that took in farmers’ tractor rally on Republic Day, the Ghaziabad administration gave an ultimate to agitators to vacate the UP Gate protest site by the midnight of Thursday. However, farmer leader Rakesh Tikait stood firm on his ground, saying he would commit suicide but won’t end his protest until the central government repeals farm laws. 

Farmers, led by Bharat Kisan Union chief Tikait, are staying put at the UP Gate in Ghazipur that borders with Delhi since November 28 in their protest against the farm laws. Amid heavy security and frequent power cuts, a confrontation built up at the protest site on Thursday, reports PTI.

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Tikait’s remark, after BKU’s ‘verbal’ communication with district administration, came after three farmer union withdrew their protest against the agriculture laws over tractor rally violence in the national capital. 

Ghaziabad District Magistrate Ajay Shankar Pandey has asked the protesting farmers to remove the spot by Thursday or the adminitration will remove them, a district offfical said, reports PTI. 

Condemning the UP government’s move, Tikait said, “I will commit suicide but won’t end protest until the farm bills are repealed,” reports PTI.

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He said that armed goons were sent to the Ghazipur protest site.’

Tikait also said, quoted in a different statement by BKU media-in-charge Dharmendra Malik, that UP Police tried arresting protesters even when the Supreme Court has found peaceful protests legitimate, reports PTI. 

“No violence has taken place at the Ghazipur border but still the UP government is resorting to policy of suppression. This is the face of the UP government,” Tikait said, adding, “Our protest will continue.”