Protesting farmers will begin their ‘Delhi Chalo‘ march today to push the Centre to address their demands. Foremost among these demands is the enactment of a law guaranteeing a minimum support price (MSP) for crops – a crucial lifeline for farmers facing market uncertainties.

Other key points of contention revolve around the repeal of the Electricity Act 2020, compensation for farmers killed in Lakhimpur Kheri, and the withdrawal of cases against those involved in the farmers’ movement. While an agreement was reached on these issues post-midnight, the farmers remain steadfast in their resolve, asserting that the government’s promises made two years ago have not been fulfilled.

The meeting revealed the government’s willingness to withdraw cases against farmers registered during the 2020-21 agitation, addressing one of the farmer’s concerns. However, the farmers insist on a legal guarantee for MSP, underscoring its significance as a cornerstone of their demands.

Farmer leaders such as Samyukta Kisan Morcha’s (Non-Political) Jagjit Singh Dallewal and Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee’s Sarwan Singh Pandher have expressed skepticism regarding the government’s commitment to fulfilling the broader set of demands. 

The government proposes the formation of a committee to deliberate on legal guarantees for MSP, debt waivers, and the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations. However, farmer representatives remain unconvinced.

Besides what is mentioned earlier, the farmers’ demands encompass a spectrum of issues, including reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act 2013, withdrawal from the World Trade Organization, and compensation for families of farmers who died during the previous agitation.

As the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march gains momentum, security measures at Singhu, Ghazipur, and Tikri borders have intensified. The Delhi police have implemented stringent measures, including the installation of nails along with barricades and the use of cranes and earthmovers to block the road, aiming to prevent the entry of protesting vehicles into the city.

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Key border points connecting Delhi with its satellite towns are choked amid multiple diversions ahead of a mega farmers’ march to the national capital.

Long queues of cars were seen on the highways at Ghazipur and Chilla borders, which connect Delhi with Ghaziabad and Noida in Uttar Pradesh.

A commuter stuck on the DND flyover told NDTV he could travel “only a kilometre in over an hour”. “The traffic is standing still for the past 20 minutes. The road seems blocked ahead and there’s no u-turn,” he said.

The traffic is slow on NH-48 too, which connects Delhi with Gurugram, and vehicles are being checked before entering the national capital.  

Several border points, including Ghazipur, Singhu and Tikri, have been fortified to prevent the protesting farmers from entering Delhi.

Concrete blocks and layers of barricades have been erected on highways to stop tractors and trollies from rolling across the border points. Barbed wires and nails have also been installed on the roads.

The farmers held talks with a government delegation last night, but there was no consensus on three of their key demands – including a law guaranteeing the minimum support price (MSP).

Authorities have barred the entry of goods vehicles from entering Delhi via the Greater Noida Expressway, Delhi Traffic Police said in its latest guidelines. Goods vehicles will also not be allowed to travel between Sirsa in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh’s Surajpur via Parichowk.

Those travelling to Delhi from the DND border have been advised to take the elevated road via Sector 18 from Film City. Commuters from Chilla side can use the Sector 14A Flyover, Roundabout Chowk, Sector 15 via Sandeep Paper Mill Chowk, Jhundapura Chowk.

People must take the Mahamaya Flyover for travelling from Kalindi Kunj Border to Delhi and while using the Yamuna Expressway, commuters are advised to get down from Jewar Toll towards Khurja and take the Jahangirpur route.