Protesting farmers enter Delhi through Tikri border, to demonstrate at Burari ground

After two days of high voltage drama, farmers from Punjab and Haryana protesting against three farms laws enacted by the Centre in September, on Friday finally entered Delhi through the Tikri border leading from Delhi to Bahadurgarh.

The agitating farmers were let in soon after Delhi police commissioner SN Shrivastava announced that the former will be allowed to enter and continue with their demonstration peacefully at the Nirankari Samagam Ground in the city’s Burari area. “They will have the permission to protest at the Nirankari Samagam Ground in the Burari area,” Shrivastava was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

Bharatiya Kisan Union (Rajewal) president Balbir Singh Rajewal said that the farmers were headed to the Burari ground after their demand to hold their protest at the Ramlila Ground was rejected by the Delhi Police.

Thanking the authorities for granting permission for the protest, a farmer told ANI, “We’ve crossed about 10 barriers on our way. We’re thankful to the administration for giving us permission to protest. We’re happy and only want a peaceful resolution to the issue.”

Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh also welcomed the move to allow the agitating farmers to enter Delhi and continue with their stir. He renewed his appeal to the Centre to initiate talks with the farmers to resolve the issue that has been raging for over two months now.

Thousands of farmers from Punjab and Haryana are marching towards Delhi as part of their ‘Dilli Challo’ call against the Centre for clearing three farm laws-The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act 2020- during the monsoon session of the Parliament.

While the government claims that the laws will eliminate the role of middlemen and ensure fair prices to farmers for their crops, the farmers contend the legislation would make them vulnerable to exploitation by big corporations.