Farmers Protest in Delhi Today, Delhi Chalo Kisan Andolan Highlights: Protesting farmers from Punjab and Haryana began their ‘Chalo Delhi’ march on Tuesday. Massive security arrangements have been put in place at the borders of the national capital to stop the farmers from entering into the city.
More than 200 farmers’ unions are headed to Delhi to press the Centre to accept their demands, including a guarantee on the minimum support price (MSP). In a last-ditch attempt, the Centre held a five-hour long meeting with the farmers on Monday, but negotiations ended in stalemate as the farmers said their protest would go as planned.
The Delhi Police has put up massive barricading, concrete barriers and barbed wire to obstruct the entry of farmers into the city. Traffic advisories have been issued as heavy traffic congestion is anticipated in Delhi and NCR regions.
Farmers Protest Today Live News: Farmers to begin march towards Delhi today. Security has been beefed up and barricades erected on borders. Follow Financial Express for all the latest updates.
In a potential replay of the protests in 2020-21 over contentious farm laws, Samyukta Kisan Morcha leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal claimed more than 200 farmers’ unions from across the country will participate in the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march.
This time around, the farmers are demanding the enactment of a law to guarantee minimum support price (MSP) for their crops. Legal assurances for the MSP scheme were part of the protests four years ago as well, which were called off after the government reached a deal with the agitating farmers.
The other demands are the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations, pensions for farmers and farm labourers, waiving of farm debts, and withdrawal of police cases filed during the 2020/21 protests. The farmers also want justice for those killed in Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri; eight people, including four farmers, were mowed down by cars during protests.
Heavy security has been deployed at Delhi’s borders as the farmers are gearing up to commence the march on Tuesday.
#WATCH | Jhajjar, Haryana: Heavy police deployment in Bahadurgarh ahead of farmers' 'Delhi Chalo' march today. pic.twitter.com/tMlL4cmFXY
— ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2024
Union ministers, including Food and Consumer Affairs minister Piyush Goyal and Agriculture minister Arjun Munda, held a five-hour meeting in Chandigarh with farmer leaders on Monday but the negotiations reportedly ended in a stalemate as the farmers are continuing with their scheduled march.