Farmers protest against Centre at 'Kisan Mazdoor Mahapanchayat' in Delhi
Farmers converged at the historic Ramlila Ground in Delhi in large numbers on Thursday to participate in a "Kisan Mazdoor Mahapanchayat" organized to protest against the BJP-led Centre's policies regarding the farming sector.
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Farmers converged at the historic Ramlila Ground in Delhi in large numbers on Thursday to participate in a "Kisan Mazdoor Mahapanchayat" organised to protest against the BJP-led Centre's policies regarding the farming sector.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) said a resolution passed at the "Kisan Mazdoor Mahapanchayat" vowed to "intensify the fight" against the Centre's policies.
The SKM is an umbrella body of farmer organizations that had spearheaded a protest at Delhi's borders in 2020-21 against three agriculture laws that have since been repealed.
At the Ramlila Maidan, farmers raised slogans against the Union government at the protest venue.
"We want the Centre's policies to be pro-farmers. We also want that our demand an MSP (minimum support price) on crops be fulfilled," said a farmer from Patiala, while another farmer from Bathinda said action should be taken against the accused in violence that erupted in Uttar Pradesh's Lakhimpur Kheri in October 2021.
Police issued a traffic advisory for commuters to avoid the roads leading to central Delhi in view of the farmers' gathering. The number of paramilitary personnel deployed at Delhi's borders was increased as the farmers had been asked not to come to the capital with their tractor-trolleys.
Officials said the Delhi Police has given permission to the farmers to hold the event on the condition that there would not be a gathering of more than 5,000 people. The farmers have also been asked not to bring tractor-trolleys to Delhi and take out a march to the Ramlila Maidan.
Reports said farmers were stopped from reaching Delhi.
BKU national spokesperson Rakesh Tikait said that the police administration was stopping the farmers at Gautam Buddha Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh.
"Whichever police station stops the farmers, we will hold a Panchayat there," he said.
A train carrying farmers from Moradabad to Delhi was stopped in Ghaziabad at 1 o'clock last night.
The farmers got angry when the train was stopped. After a lot of commotion, the train was allowed to proceed.
Delhi Police made heavy deployment of security forces on the three borders of Delhi -- Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur.
Farmers alleged that before the Kisan Mahapanchayat was held in Delhi, dirty sewer water was filled in Ramlila Maidan. Still, thousands of farmers gathered at Ramlila Maidan.
Though the timing of Mahapanchayat was kept from 11 am to 2 pm, farmers from many states reached Delhi in the night itself.
Farmers said they received permission for Mahapanchayat at Ramlila Maidan with several riders.
During this period, only 5,000 farmers are allowed to gather in the field and they will not be able to bring tractors etc. along with them.
