Delhi Police stops five hundred farmers from visiting Kisan Ghat:  What would Gandhi have said? 

Thousands of farmers, just five hundred according to Delhi Police, under the banner of the Bharat Kisan Union (BKU) protested against the Yogi government on Saturday.

Demanding complete loan waiver, payment of sugarcane dues, free electricity to farmers agricultural use and implementation of the recommendations made by Swaminathan Commission, farmers sat on Dharna near UP-Delhi boarder at NH 24 after they were stopped from entering Delhi.

Farmers were slated to reach Kisan Ghat on Saturday but citing disruption, administration did not grant permission.

The protest that was launched on September 17 from Saharanpur aims to highlight the plight of the farming community along with the rising agrarian crisis in the BJP ruled state.

Among many demands of the farmers, one-time unconditional loan waiver and cleaning of tributaries of the Ganga in western Uttar Pradesh are some significant ones.

Representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare reached out to farmers on Friday, and had talks with farmer leaders but efforts remained inconclusive as talks did not yield any results.

As per media reports, protest march has badly affected the regular traffic movement in Noida Sector 62, where protesting farmers assembled for discussion.

Farmer leader Puran Singh told NH that farmers have tolerated enough. Now the government will have to take action to tackle the agrarian crisis.

Here are the key demands by protesting farmers

· Waiving off the farmers' debts

· Implementation of the Swaminathan Commission

· Free medicines and education to farmers

· Issues related to land acquisition should be resolved in one go

· Payment of sugarcane dues within the stipulated time of 14 days and the payment of outstanding amount along with interest

· Free electricity to farmers for agricultural use

· Inclusion of the entire family under the farmer insurance scheme

· Restoration of polluted rivers and strict action against the units polluting the rivers.