Another Stir : Farmers Gather In Capital In Hordes ; This Time Protest Over Unemployment ; Tight Security In Place

Picture : Twitter/ ANI

Farmers from across the states arrived at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on Monday early morning protesting over unemployment. Meanwhile, the Delhi police also detained some farmers and have increased the security on all the borders amid the protests. As per the information, Delhi Police has detained some farmers protesting at Ghazipur on the Delhi-UP border.

Meanwhile, the traffic situation in the city witnessed disruption as police put up checkpoints at the borders resulting in a traffic pile-up. Traffic movement slowed down at the Noida-Delhi Chilla border as security is heightened at the border entry points.

Earlier, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) – an umbrella body of farmers – had announced the beginning of its 75-hour sit-in in Lakhimpur Kheri of Uttar Pradesh from Thursday (August 18) to press for their pending demands.

SKM is an umbrella group comprising around 40 farm organisations, primarily demanding the proper implementation of minimum support price (MSP) for crops.

In April, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait joined the protest held by the Telangana leaders in New Delhi against the Centre’s paddy procurement policy and said that there is a need for another protest in the country.

Tikait also added that the farmer umbrella body Samyukt Kisan Morcha will back every Chief Minister who fights for the farmers’ issues.

Meanwhile, in view of the mahapanchayat, security was beefed up at Delhi borders, including Singhu and Ghazipur, police said on Monday.

They said all vehicles entering the capital are being checked and police personnel are on ‘alert mode’.

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.

Anyone trying to gain entry will be checked thoroughly to avoid any undue gathering which may give rise any untoward situation, police said.

Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Sagar Preet Hooda said, “Personnel usually remain deployed at Jantar Mantar but on Monday, we have deployed additional force in view of the ‘mahapanchayat’.”