Live Updates on Farmers Protest: Farmers, primarily from Punjab, along with their counterparts from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, have initiated their ‘Chalo Delhi’ march following an inconclusive meeting with the Union government. Prior to the march, farmer leaders from Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh held a second round of talks with central ministers Piyush Goyal and Arjun Munda. The meeting, which lasted for five hours, was the government’s last-ditch effort to prevent the protest that is expected to cause traffic congestion in Delhi NCR on Tuesday.
After the meeting, Union Agriculture Minister Munda stated that a consensus had been reached on most of the issues concerning the farmers. However, the farmers have insisted on proceeding with their march on Tuesday, resulting in the closure of several state borders around Delhi.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha will lead Tuesday’s march, urging the Centre to fulfill their demands, which include the enactment of a law guaranteeing a minimum support price (MSP) for crops.
The farmers’ protest is primarily driven by the need for a legal guarantee of MSP. Additionally, they have also called for the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations and the waiver of farm debts.
On Tuesday, the farmers’ ‘Chalo Delhi’ march garnered significant attention due to its key highlights.
A massive demonstration is set to take place in Delhi, led by farmers from Haryana, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh. Their primary demand is for a legal assurance of Minimum Support Price (MSP).
This protest, known as the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march, was announced last week in an effort to compel the government to address their concerns. The farmers have presented several conditions, including the guarantee of MSP, pension for farmers and agricultural workers, the waiver of farm debts, and justice for the victims of the Lakhimpur Kheri violence.
To ensure security, strict measures have been implemented at the Singh, Tikri, and Ghazipur borders in Delhi. Cement barricades, metal nails, and barriers have been installed to restrict vehicular movement and maintain peace in the national capital.
In anticipation of the farmers’ protests on Tuesday, the Delhi police have imposed section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code at the Uttar Pradesh borders to prevent any untoward incidents. To further enhance security, more than 50,000 security personnel have been deployed at the Delhi borders.
Additionally, internet and bulk SMS services have been temporarily suspended in seven districts – Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad, and Sirsa – until February 13th.