Farmers’ Protest in Delhi: Why are farmers marching to the national capital again? What’re their planned routes and demands? todayheadline

Farmers’ organisations are gearing up for fresh protests as they reportedly plan to march toward Delhi starting Monday, December 2. Speaking about the march, the Bhartiya Kisan Parishad (BKP) leader Sukhbir Khalifa said that the farmers are protesting to demand fair compensation and benefits under the new agricultural laws. “We are ready for our march towards Delhi. Tomorrow, on December 2, we will start our march from under the Maha Maya flyover in Noida. By noon, we will reach there and demand our compensation and benefits as per the new laws,” Khalifa stated.

Farmers to Protest Across States

The BKP’s march is part of broader demonstrations by various farmer organisations, including the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) and the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM-non-political). These groups will begin their march to Delhi on December 6. Additionally, farmer unions in Kerala, Uttarakhand, and Tamil Nadu plan symbolic marches to their respective legislative assemblies on the same day.

Farmers at the Punjab-Haryana Shambhu border have been camping since February 13, protesting their halted march toward Delhi. Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC) general secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher announced that these farmers would join the December 6 march.

Farmers Protest Planned Routes

Farmers plan to start march towards Delhi from the Maha Maya flyover (In Noida).
Farmers protesting at the Shambhu border (Punjab-Haryana border) will join the march to Delhi on December 6. The first group, or “jatha,” of farmers heading to Delhi will be led by farmer leaders Satnam Singh Pannu, Surinder Singh Chautala, Surjit Singh Phul, and Baljinder Singh. Their journey will include stops at Ambala, the Mohra grain market, Khanpur Jattan, and Pipli in Haryana. They plan to walk daily between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., resting overnight on the road.

Farmers Agitation: Key Demands

The farmers are demanding:

• A legally guaranteed Minimum Support Price (MSP).
• Waiver of farm loans.
• Pensions for farmers and farm labourers.
• Withdrawal of police cases filed during past protests.
• Justice for victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence.
• Reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013.
• Compensation for families of farmers who died during the 2020-21 protests.

Unresolved Negotiations on Farmer Issues

In earlier talks on February 18, the Centre offered to procure crops like pulses, maize, and cotton at MSP for five years. However, farmer leaders rejected the proposal. Pandher criticized the government for halting negotiations and stated, “They have stopped the talks with us. Contract farming is not acceptable to us. We are demanding a legal guarantee on the MSP for crops.”

The farmers’ continued push for their demands underscores their dissatisfaction with the current policies and the government’s response. As protests escalate, all eyes remain on Delhi to see how these demands will be addressed.