Farmers Protest Highlights: ‘This agitation not going to end,’ says farm leader Rakesh Tikait

On Samyukta Kisan Morcha's call, I participated in the farmer-labourer Mahapanchayat organised at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi, along with all SKM leaders. Today, the farmers of the country are suffering the consequences of the government's wrong policy and its dictatorship: Rakesh Tikait, BKU spokesperson

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi unveils his party's ‘five guarantees’ to farmers, if voted to power in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

According to a February 2020 Business Today report, the national capital's historic Ramlila Ground can accommodate around 1.25 lakh people.

Farmers Protest Live Updates: The three agricultural laws, which sparked unprecedented farmer protests lasting over a year, were repealed by the Narendra Modi-led government in 2021.

These legislations include: The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act.

• The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce Act enables farmers to sell their produce outside APMC markets, allowing licensed traders to purchase at agreed prices, exempt from state mandi taxes.

• The Farmers Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act permits contract farming and unrestricted marketing of farm products by farmers.

• The Essential Commodities Amendment Act revises the Essential Commodities Act, freeing certain items like foodgrains, pulses, edible oils, and onions for trade, except in crises.

Farmers Protest Live Updates: Vehicles crawled along, causing traffic jams at ITO, Delhi Gate, Daryaganj, and National Highway-24 near Sarai Kale Khan, alongside other locations amid farmers' "mahapanchayat" convened at the Ramlila Ground in the national capital.

"We have had a word with the traffic police about diversion plans," the officer said earlier.

The Delhi Traffic Police has issued an advisory, alerting commuters about traffic regulations and route diversions.

The advisory said traffic will be regulated from 6 am to 4 pm on -

Jawahar Lal Nehru Marg, Barakhamba Road, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, Tolstoy Marg, Asaf Ali Road, Jai Singh Road, Swami Vivekananda Marg, Sansad Marg, Netaji Subhas Marg, Baba Kharak Singh Marg, Minto Road, Ashoka Road, the Maharaja Ranjeet Singh flyover, Connaught Circus, Bhavbhuti Marg, DDU Marg and Chaman Lal Marg.

Thousands of farmers continue to protest on Punjab-Haryana borders, where they have been camping since February 13, when their march to Delhi was blocked by Haryana Police and paramilitary forces.

There have been several round of clashes between thw two sides.

Farmers Protest Live Updates: Amidst the large gathering at Ramlila Maidan in the national capital on Thursday, speaking to the media from the protest site, Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait says, “A meeting was held here and the government got a message that the farmers of the country are united. The government should resolve the issue through talks, this agitation is not going to end.”

Farmers Protest Live Updates: Congress leader and Lok Sabha representative from Wayanad, Rahul Gandhi, on Thursday reaffirmed the party's commitment to providing a legal guarantee for the minimum support price (MSP) based on the recommendations of the Swaminathan committee report. He highlighted that a small fraction of individuals in the country possess wealth equal to that of 70 crore citizens, and accused the Narendra Modi government of forgiving ₹16 lakh crore in debt owed by industrialists.

"This amount is equivalent to 24 years of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA) under which ₹35,000 crore is spent every year to give employment to the poor people," Gandhi said.

Farmers Protest Live Updates: The farmers are staging a large-scale protest to compel the Centre to accept their set of demands.

• Farm organisations insist on legislation guaranteeing a minimum support price (MSP), a prerequisite established in 2021 when they agreed to halt their agitation against the now-repealed farm laws.

• Additionally, farmers are pressing for the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations, pensions for both farmers and farm labourers, and the forgiveness of agricultural debts.

• The farmers also demand that the Centre deliver "justice" for those affected by the Lakhimpur Kheri violence.

Farmers Protest Live Updates: Speaking at a farmers' gathering at Krishi Utapann Bazar Samiti in Nashik as part of his Maharashtra tour for the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said, "The issues of farmers, inflation, unemployment, and agniveers are the most prominent in the country today, but on TV channels, you will never see discussion on these issues."

"Instead, TV channels show Modi ji all 24 hours; at times he goes under the sea to do a puja and a TV camera goes with him, then he takes a flight on a seaplane...," he said.

"Then he will go to the China border and the media will follow him. Then (He) will talk about Pakistan. Then the COVID-19 pandemic will come and (we will be) clapping and clanging utensils. He will make everyone dance," the Wayanad MP said.

Traffic snarls were witnessed in central Delhi in view of a farmers' "mahapanchayat" convened at the Ramlila Ground.

Vehicles were seen moving at a snail's pace, resulting in traffic congestion at ITO, Delhi Gate and Daryaganj, among other places in the capital, reports PTI.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi says that if the Opposition's INDIA alliance is voted to power, it will be the "voice of farmers" and frame policies to protect them. "The INDIA alliance government will be the voice of farmers and work to protect their interests," Gandhi says, according to PTI.

Gandhi is addressing a farmers' rally at Chandwad in Maharashtra's Nashik district along with NCP (SP) supremo Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut.

-The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of farmers' groups, is holding a ‘Kisan Mazdoor Mahapanchayat’ at the Ramlila Maidan in Delhi.

-While the Delhi Police has permitted the farmers' gathering with a condition that the mahapanchayat will not have more than 5,000 participants, the SKM said that it expects over 50,000 farmers from Punjab to join the event.

-In view of the mahapanchayat, traffic snarls were reported from areas around Ramlila Maidan. The Delhi traffic police have already issued an advisory, alerting the commuters about the traffic regulations and diversions of routes.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh says that even though the Centre has allowed farmers to hold a Mahapanchayat at Ramlila Maidan, it has no intention to address their concerns.

"Earlier, farmers were treated with tear gas, but now the government is under their (farmer's) pressure. Finally, they (farmers) have got permission to organise their 'Mahapanchayat'," Ramesh tells ANI.

Farmers Protest Live Updates: Harman Singh, a farmer from Punjab's Patiala, says that farmers want the BJP-led Central government's policies to be pro-farmers. "We want the Centre's policies to be pro-farmers. We also want that our demand for an MSP (minimum support price) on crops to be fulfilled," he tells PTI.

Farmers Protest Live Updates: Farmers have been demanding legislation ensuring a legal status for MSP for their crops.

Additionally, they demand implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations for MSP, pensions for farmers and agricultural workers, and the waiver of farm debts.

Farmers Protest Live Updates: Farmers in large numbers have gathered at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan to take part in the "Kisan Mazdoor Mahapanchayat" to protest against the BJP-led Centre's policies. The farmers raised slogans against the Centre at the protest venue, reports PTI.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Police has issued a traffic advisory urging commuters to avoid roads leading to central Delhi in view of the ‘Kisan Mahapanchayat’.

Farmers Protest Live Updates: “The government has not fulfilled the demands of farmers and workers so far,” Bhartiya Kisan Union (Chaduni) president Gurnam Singh Chaduni tells PTI as he leaves Kurukshetra towards Delhi.

Farmers Protest Live Updates: Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKWU) leader Rakesh Tikait says that a law guaranteeing MSP to farmers is a big issue and that a major agitation is needed in the country for it.

"Our leadership here will discuss and later we will announce their decision. MSP guarantee law is a big issue. Whatever decision is taken today, the people gathered here will inform about it to those in their respective villages, cities, states. There is a need of a big agitation in the country," Tikait tells PTI.

Farmers Protest Live Updates: Heavy traffic is being reported in Noida as police tighten security in view of the ‘Kisan Mahapanchayat’ being held at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan, PTI reports.

Farmers Protest Live Updates: Farmers are at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan to hold 'Kisan Mahapanchayat' to press for their demands including MSP law.

Farmers Protest Live Updates: Security heightened near Delhi's Ramlila Maidan where farmers are scheduled to hold 'Kisan Mahapanchayat' later today, reports PTI.

Farmers Protest Live Updates: Bhartiya Kisan Union (Tikait) leader Hoshiar Singh says they are in Delhi to remind the Central government of its promises made during the Delhi protest.

"The central government had made some promises during our Delhi protest. However, none of the promises have been fulfilled so far. So, we have come here to remind the government that the promises should be fulfilled, and farmers should be provided apt prices for their crops," Hoshiar Singh tells PTI.

Farmers Protest Live Updates: Security forces at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan ahead of the “Kisan Mazdoor Mahapanchayat”.

Farmers Protest Live Updates: The Gautam Buddh Nagar Police on Wednesday cautioned commuters about the possibility of traffic movement slowing down on some of the routes in view of the ‘Kisan Mazdoor Mahapanchayat’ by farmers in Delhi.

The police said diversions could be placed at routes in Noida near Delhi borders, where "intensive" checking of vehicles would be carried out before allowing them passage towards the national capital, according to PTI. More here.