National capital on alert as farmers set to begin 'Delhi Chalo' march from Noida today

The Delhi police have heightened security in the national capital as farmers are set to resume their ‘Delhi Chalo’ march on Monday, to pressurise the Centre to implement their key demands including Minimum Support Price for produce. The security measures by Delhi and Noida police have led to massive traffic jams on the stretch. 

Farmers under the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) and Bharatiya Kishan Parishad (BKP) have been protesting at Shambhu and Khanauri borders since February on various demands. The farmers announced they would march to Delhi on Monday to press the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Union government to implement the legal guarantee on MSP.

The protesting farmers from Punjab will begin their march to Delhi from the Maha Maya flyover in Noida at noon. The farmers have planned to spend their nights on the road and march from 9am to 5pm every day. Farmers under the BKP will begin their march today and other farmer groups are expected to join the march from December 6. 

The Delhi-Noida police have set up barricades at the national capital’s borders and are conducting stringent checks. Police have advised traffic diversions for other commuters to minimise inconvenience. 

KMM leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said on Sunday they reject contract farming and demanded implementation of MSP for various crops. The farmers are also demanding a waiver of farm loans, pension for farmers and farm workers, a cap on electricity tariff for farming, justice for Lakhimpur Kheri violence victims and compensation for farmers who died during their 2021 ‘Delhi chalo’ protest. The farmers are also demanding reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act.