Farmers Impose 'Section 288' Of The BKU
By Ashwini Agarwal
First publised on 2020-12-01 16:08:16
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The farmers protesting on the outskirts of Delhi are talking about section 288, which they say they will impose in the area if the administration imposes section 144 of the IPC to prevent large gatherings. What is section 288? The said section in the IPC or the CrPC does not translate into any meaningful riposte to section 144 and hence they are definitely not talking about them.
It so transpires that 32 years ago, late Mahendra Singh Tikait, leader of the Bharatiya Kisan Union, had floated this section by which he said that the police were not allowed to come near or touch farmers when the farmers were agitating at the Boat Club in Delhi in 1988. It was then used to warn the police, and this time again the farmers have put up banners about this 'section' where they are camping near the Delhi-Ghaziabad border.
The administration would be foolish to even think of imposing section 144 and trying to disperse the farmers. It could lead to a mini war as the farmers have assembled in huge numbers and more are coming in everyday. It speaks of the farmers' resolve to get a hearing and a solution to the problem of the new farm bills that they have remembered Tikait and his 'section'. The farmers will not budge. It is the government which must handle the situation with care and placate them by clearing their doubts over the said bills.
It is good that the agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar has invited the representatives of the farmers unions for a meeting on Tuesday. This obviates the need for both section 144 and 'section 288', at least for now. But if the government is not able to convince the farmers of the efficacy of the new bills, the country must prepare for ugly scenes as the farmers are not going to give in.
