After a month-long standoff at Delhi’s borders, protesting farmers are set to march into the national capital today to assert their demands, chief among them being a legal guarantee for a safety net on the pricing of all crops. Here are the key developments on the ‘Kisan Mahapanchayat’ slated for today:
1. Permission Granted: The Delhi Police has given the green light for the farmers to hold a ‘Kisan Mazdoor Mahapanchayat’ at Delhi’s Ramlila Ground today.
2. Conditions Imposed: Despite granting permission, the police have imposed conditions on the farmers, including a ban on tractor trolleys, marches, and limiting the gathering to not exceed 5,000 protesters.
3. Objectives of the Gathering: Scheduled from 11 am to 2 pm, the gathering aims to escalate the protest against government policies, focusing particularly on issues like Minimum Support Price (MSP) and the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations.
4. Leadership: The protest will be spearheaded by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), the umbrella body of farmers’ organizations that led the 2020-21 farmers’ protest against the three central agricultural laws.
5. Resolution Announcement: SKM plans to pass a resolution titled ‘Sankalp Patra,’ outlining strategies against pro-corporate policies and announcing future actions, especially in the context of the upcoming general elections.
6. Traffic Advisory: Police have issued a traffic advisory as various parts of Delhi and surrounding areas are expected to be affected due to the farmers’ gathering.
7. Likely Affected Areas: According to a statement from Delhi Traffic Police, several key roads including Jawaharlal Nehru Marg, Barakhamba Road, and Connaught Circus are expected to be affected by the farmers’ gathering.
8. Background: The farmers from Punjab arrived at the Delhi borders on February 13, seeking to conduct a peaceful demonstration at Ramlila Maidan. However, they were stopped at the Punjab-Haryana border by police, leading to clashes and the use of water cannons and tear gas.
The farmers began their march towards Delhi with trollies filled with ration supplies, vowing not to return until their demands were met. Police had erected barriers to impede their entry into Delhi. The protesting farmers have rejected the government’s proposal to procure pulses, maize, and cotton at Minimum Support Price (MSP) for five years. Their demands include a legal guarantee for MSP, farm loan waivers, and the implementation of the Swaminathan Committee recommendations.
Comments