Farmers hold ‘Kisan Mahapanchayat’ in Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan amid heightened security

Farmer’s union Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Thursday marched into Delhi to continue their protest at Ramlila Ground, almost a month after camping at capital’s borders.

Various farmer outfits under the SKM have joined the “Kisan Mazdoor Mahapanchayat” at Ramlila Maidan to press the Centre to accept their demands, including a law on the minimum support price (MSP) for crops.

Reportedly, the Delhi Police has issued restrictions, such as allowing only 5,000 protesters, banning sticks or any other sharp weapons, following the issuance of a no-objection certificate.

The gathering, scheduled from 11 am to 2 pm, aims to "intensify the fight against government's policies", focusing on issues like MSP and implementing the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations.

SKM said they plan to pass a resolution, 'Sankalp Patra,' outlining strategies against pro-corporate policies and announcing future actions, especially in the context of the upcoming general elections, an NDTV report said.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Traffic Police has imposed traffic restrictions in the national capital.

“Both Delhi Police and MCD have issued an NOC for holding the ‘mahapanchayat’,” Darshan Pal, member, national coordination committee, SKM had told The Indian Express.

Earlier this week, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), which gave the call for the “Mahapanchayat” on February 22 at a meeting in Chandigarh, got no-objection certificates for the gathering from police and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi.

Owing to the agitation, Delhi traffic police issued an advisory for the commuters about traffic regulations and any route diversions.

SKM sources said that a nationwide Sanyukt Jan Aandolan was likely to be announced at the Mahapanchayat against the central government’s “anti-farmer and pro-corporate approach” and that people would be advised to vote judiciously in the Lok Sabha polls.

The agitation is a part of farmer’s protest to highlight issues of a legal guarantee of MSP, freedom from debt, old age pension, rolling back of labour codes, and other pending issues.

Farmers from various states like Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh etc.. are likely to have participated in the protest.

Earlier, SKM, which was at the helm of 2020-21 farmers' protest called for rail blockade on March 10 to press their demands that include a legal guarantee for a safety net on the pricing of all crops.