SP delegation stopped from meeting farmers in Greater Noida jail

Noida: A Samajwadi Party (SP) delegation, which was attempting to visit farmers in Greater Noida's Luksar jail in Gautam Budh Nagar district on Thursday, was stopped by police at the DND Flyway.
Acting on instructions from party president Akhilesh Yadav, the delegation that included several MPs from Uttar Pradesh wanted to meet with the farmers, who had been arrested for demanding increased compensation on Dec 4 and 5 at Zero Point in Greater Noida.
Approximately 129 farmers remain in judicial custody.
SP's Noida president Ashray Gupta said, "The police stopped a delegation at the DND Flyover and said we can't meet the farmers in jail."
The incident prompted a heated exchange between the police officials and the delegation.
The delegation comprised 16 members, including Fatehpur MP Naresh Uttam Patel, Muzaffar Nagar MP Harendra Malik, Ambedkar Nagar MP Lalji Verma and GB Nagar party president Sudhir Bhati.
The delegation subsequently met with family members of the jailed farmers and pledged support for their cause.
The delegation met with district magistrate Manish Kumar Verma and additional police commissioner (law and order) Shivhari Meena.
The DM assured them that the matter would be addressed.
"Not allowing the meeting with jailed farmers is a violation of democratic rights. The govt is murdering democracy, and the situation in UP resembles an emergency," Malik (MP) said.
He alleged that the farmers are being mistreated in jail, and the authorities are preventing any meetings to conceal this fact.
MP Uttam Patel said, "The Bharatiya Janata Party govt is depriving them of their rights. The farmers are treated like terrorists. There are continuous atrocities against farmers under the current govt."
MP Lalji Verma said the SP stands with the farmers in this fight and "will take all necessary steps for the release of the protesting farmers".
The delegation said they would submit a detailed report of the events to SP chief Akhilesh.
Meanwhile, GB Nagar Bar Association continued its strike for a third consecutive day in support of farmers.
The association warned of stepping up protests if the farmers are not released by Friday.
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