The national capital is set to witness yet another round of farmers’ protest starting Monday. Thousands of farmers are marching towards Delhi under the banner of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM).

A high-level meeting between the farmers and the administration was held on Sunday. However, as no consensus was reached on their demands on Sunday, the farmers raised the slogan “Chalo Delhi” (Let’s march to Delhi). 

They now plan to surround the Parliament. The protesting farmer organizations are demanding benefits from the new land acquisition law and 10% developed plots for farmers affected by land acquisition.

Police alert & traffic jams 

Following the announcement, Noida and Delhi police are on high alert, and barricades have been placed on the borders. Coordination has been established between the police forces of Noida and Delhi, and people are advised to use the metro. Heavy traffic jams are being reported, and the police are on standby.

The roads leading to Delhi are experiencing heavy traffic jams. Farmers remain adamant about marching to Delhi. To stop them, police forces are on standby at the Delhi-Noida and Chilla borders. Since morning, heavy traffic jams have been observed in these areas.

What are the demands?

Under the new land acquisition law, farmers are demanding fourfold compensation for land acquired after January 1, 2014.

Circle rates have not increased in Gautam Buddha Nagar in the past 10 years. Farmers demand that the new law’s benefits be implemented in the district.  

Specific demands include:

• A legal framework for Minimum Support Price (MSP).  
• Implementation of Swaminathan Commission recommendations.  
• Waiver of agricultural loans for farmers participating in the protests.  
• Justice for victims of the Lakhimpur Kheri violence.  
• Withdrawal of India from the WTO.  
• Increased subsidies to reduce import duties on agricultural produce, dairy products, fruits, vegetables, and meat.  
• A pension scheme providing ₹10,000 per month for farmers and farm labourers above 58 years of age.  
• Reforms in the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana to make the government bear the insurance premium and include all crops in the scheme. Loss assessments should be done at the acre level. 
• Implementation of the 2013 Land Acquisition Act as is, and revocation of central government directives to states on land acquisition.  
• Improvement in seed quality for all crops, including cotton, by amending the Pesticides, Seeds, and Fertilizers Act.

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