Farmers' protests against the three agri laws imposed by the central government, which have been going on for months near the national capital's borders, are poised to get a boost from today. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella group of protesting farm unions, will organize a series of demonstrations near Parliament in New Delhi's Jantar Mantar.
Farmers got approval to carry out the rally at Delhi, but only 200 demonstrators will be permitted until August 9. Rakesh Tikait, the head of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) said that a total of 200 farmers under the SKM will travel to the Jantar Mantar on a bus every day, as permitted by Anil Baijal, the lieutenant-governor of Delhi.
"I, along with eight other protesting farmers, will travel to the Singhu border and from there to Jantar Mantar," Tikait said. "At Jantar Mantar, we will have a 'Kisan Sansad' and observe Parliamentary sessions."
Farmers who are protesting have also been requested to sign an affidavit stating that they will observe all Covid-19 rules and that the movement will be peaceful. During the ongoing monsoon session of Parliament, the demonstrators would be confronted by significant security deployment in the vicinity.
Police personnel were spotted increasing security at the Singhu border near the national capital ahead of the farmers' demonstration at Jantar Mantar against the three agri laws.
Protestors have stated that if the monsoon session of Parliament ends on August 13, their protests against the three agri legislation imposed by the central government will continue until that date. However, Delhi's lieutenant governor, Anil Baijal, has only granted the farmers until August 9 to continue their protests.
It's the first occasion since earlier this year's violence during a tractor rally in the national capital on Republic Day, January 26, that officials have allowed protesting farmers' groups to stage demonstrations in the capital.
Meanwhile, BKU leader Rakesh Tikait has urged authorities to restore roadways near protest locations for the convenience of local residents, insisting that no farmer from the Ghazipur border will travel to Delhi "secretly" and will only protest at Jantar Mantar, which is permitted.
Since November 2020, hundreds of farmers have been camping outside Delhi's Singhu, Tikri, and Ghazipur borders, demanding that the new Agri laws be repealed and a new law enacted to guarantee minimum support prices (MSP) for crops. The government, on the other hand, has maintained that the laws are pro-farmer after 11 rounds of formal negotiation with protestors.
