Demanding discussion on MSP, farmers break police barricades, march to Delhi

Demands also include the allocation of 10 per cent developed plots to farmers displaced by land acquisition

A section of the protestors (photo: Vipin/NH)
A section of the protestors (photo: Vipin/NH)
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NH Digital

A show of defiance and determination marked the farmers' march towards the national capital on Monday as they broke through police barricades near Noida’s Dalit Prerna Sthal, pressing their demand for a discussion on minimum support price (MSP) during the ongoing winter session of Parliament.

The farmers are also seeking compensation and legal safeguards for those affected by land acquisitions and the implementation of welfare measures proposed by a state committee. The protest, led by the Bharatiya Kisan Parishad (BKP), Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), and other farmers' groups, once again highlighted the deep undercurrents of rural discontent.

Before their march towards Delhi, the farmers had shifted their protest from the Greater Noida Authority office to the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) in Omega. Their demands included the allocation of 10 per cent developed plots to farmers displaced by land acquisition, along with timely implementation of state-recommended benefits.

Anticipating the march, police fortified Delhi’s borders with barricades, anti-riot squads, and drone surveillance. Sagar Singh Kalsi, additional commissioner of police (eastern range), said, "Strong arrangements have been made to maintain law and order while ensuring minimal inconvenience to the public."

Despite these measures, traffic disruptions were reported on key routes connecting Noida to Delhi, with police advisories issued for commuters.

In a separate but related development, the Supreme Court on Monday addressed the growing tension surrounding farmers' protests, urging protestors to avoid blocking highways and emphasising that peaceful demonstrations are integral to a democracy but should not inconvenience the public.

The court was hearing a plea concerning Punjab farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been on a fast-unto-death at the Khanauri on the Punjab-Haryana border, demanding action on farmers’ issues. Dallewal, removed from the site by Punjab Police on 26 November, resumed his hunger strike after being released from a Ludhiana hospital.

The court remarked, “The Khanauri border is a lifeline for Punjab. While we respect the farmers’ right to protest, they must ensure that the public is not unduly affected.”

The farmers’ movement, which forced the government to repeal three controversial farm laws in 2021, appears to be gathering steam again. The fresh round of protests over MSP, land rights, and welfare reflects the unresolved tensions between rural communities and the Modi government.

With the winter session of Parliament in progress, the farmers are using the march to Delhi as a pressure tactic, demanding that their long-pending issues be taken seriously. Their march is not just a protest but a stark reminder of the agrarian distress that continues to plague the country.

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