Hundreds of Farmers Reach Delhi to Take Part in 'Mahapanchayat'
File Photo.
New Delhi: Hundreds of farmers from different states started reaching Delhi amid heavy security arrangements to participate in a 'mahapanchayat' called by an outfit that calls itself Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) at Jantar Mantar on Monday.
The farm leaders claimed at some locations, farmers were being stopped from reaching Jantar Mantar, a claim denied by the Delhi Police.
"The mahapanchayat is a one day-long peaceful event where we will reiterate our demands such as a legal guarantee on MSP and cancellation of Electricity Amendment Bill 2022 among others," said Abhimanyu Singh Kohar, one of the organisers of the 'mahapanchayat'.
He, however, added that the police is yet to give permission for the 'mahapanchayat' at Jantar Mantar.
Kohar said farmers coming from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh were stopped last night and not allowed to reach Jantar Mantar. They were taken to Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, Rakabganj and Moti Bagh and later released, he said.
Kohar said farmers from Punjab, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and some parts of Haryana have reached Delhi and more are coming to take part in the 'mahapanchayat'.
He said earlier during the farmers' movement, the Central government had promised to consider all our demands but they did "nothing".
"So here we are again to discuss and raise our demands and chalk out future strategy of the movement," Kohar said.
Meanwhile, security was beefed up on Monday at Delhi borders, including Singhu and Ghazipur.
Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Dependra Pathak said, "We have made adequate arrangements to ensure that the law and order is maintained and there is no loss of life and property."
According to the police, extra barricades have been put up at Jantar Mantar along with heavy police deployment.
A Delhi Police official had said Rakesh Tikait, the national spokesperson for the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), was stopped at the border around afternoon.
"Thereafter, he was detained and taken to Madhu Vihar police station where police requested him to return," Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Dependra Pathak had said.
On Sunday, several farmer leaders and organisations gathered at Jantar Mantar for their 'Rozgar Sansad' (employment parliament) organised by the Samyukt Rojgar Andolan Samiti.
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