The Delhi police have installalled nails along with barricades to prevent farmers from entering the city.
Protesting farmers will begin their 'Delhi Chalo' march today to push the Centre to address their demands. Foremost among these demands is the enactment of a law guaranteeing a minimum support price (MSP) for crops - a crucial lifeline for farmers facing market uncertainties.
Other key points of contention revolve around the repeal of the Electricity Act 2020, compensation for farmers killed in Lakhimpur Kheri, and the withdrawal of cases against those involved in the farmers' movement. While an agreement was reached on these issues post-midnight, the farmers remain steadfast in their resolve, asserting that the government's promises made two years ago have not been fulfilled.
The meeting revealed the government's willingness to withdraw cases against farmers registered during the 2020-21 agitation, addressing one of the farmer's concerns. However, the farmers insist on a legal guarantee for MSP, underscoring its significance as a cornerstone of their demands.
Farmer leaders such as Samyukta Kisan Morcha's (Non-Political) Jagjit Singh Dallewal and Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee's Sarwan Singh Pandher have expressed skepticism regarding the government's commitment to fulfilling the broader set of demands.
The government proposes the formation of a committee to deliberate on legal guarantees for MSP, debt waivers, and the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations. However, farmer representatives remain unconvinced.
On November 19, 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a significant announcement, bringing an end to the thirteen-month-long farmers' agitation on the borders of Delhi by repealing the three contentious farm laws.
Despite the urgency expressed by agitating farmers' unions, it took the government approximately nine months to fulfill its promise. Only on July 12, 2022, did the Centre establish an expert committee, naming former Agriculture Secretary Sanjay Agarwal as its chairman. The committee comprised 29 members, with four representing the Secretaries to the Government of India and another four representing the states.
Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh found no representation in the committee, a fact that has drawn attention and criticism. The absence of any economists or experts who opposed the farm laws in the committee has also raised some concerns.
The Centre on October 18 last year declared an increase in the MSP for six Rabi crops.
Besides what is mentioned earlier, the farmers' demands encompass a spectrum of issues, including reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act 2013, withdrawal from the World Trade Organization, and compensation for families of farmers who died during the previous agitation.
As the 'Delhi Chalo' march gains momentum, security measures at Singhu, Ghazipur, and Tikri borders have intensified. The Delhi police have implemented stringent measures, including the installation of nails along with barricades and the use of cranes and earthmovers to block the road, aiming to prevent the entry of protesting vehicles into the city.