Tens of thousands of farmers are preparing to converge on Delhi in a series of coordinated marches, demanding compensation for losses incurred under the new agricultural laws and the implementation of a guaranteed Minimum Support Price (MSP). The protests, set to begin as early as December 2nd, are expected to cause significant disruption in the national capital region (NCR).
The Bhartiya Kisan Parishad (BKP), led by Sukhbir Khalifa, will initiate their march on December 2nd, starting from under the Maha Maya flyover in Noida. Khalifa stated that the march aims to secure compensation and benefits promised under the recently implemented agricultural laws. “We are ready,” Khalifa told ANI. “On December 2nd, we will start our march from under the Maha Maya flyover (in Noida) and reach there by noon to demand our compensation and benefits as per the new laws.”
Adding to the impending demonstrations, several other prominent farmer organizations are planning simultaneous marches. The Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) and the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), a non-political farmer collective, are slated to commence their foot marches towards Delhi on December 6th. These multiple converging protests promise to be a significant display of farmer power. Further emphasizing the gravity of the situation, the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC) General Secretary Sarwan Singh Pandhair announced that farmers currently protesting at the Shambhu border (Punjab-Haryana border) will also join the Delhi march on December 6th, reiterating their demand for a guaranteed MSP.
Anticipating major traffic congestion, the Delhi Traffic Police has released a detailed advisory outlining planned diversions and restrictions. Heavy goods vehicles are banned from several key routes, including sections of the Yamuna Expressway and the Noida-Greater Noida Expressway. The police are conducting stringent checks at all major Noida-Delhi borders. Alternate routes for passenger vehicles have been suggested, emphasizing the utilization of the metro system to mitigate traffic snarls. A dedicated Noida traffic helpline, 9971009001, has been established to provide real-time updates and assistance to commuters.
The scale of the impending protests is already causing friction. Haryana Agriculture Minister Shyan Singh Rana criticized the planned march, claiming the farmers lack legitimate grievances. Rana argued that the repeal of the three contentious farm laws should have resolved the issues and that the previous protests caused economic harm to Punjab, citing the relocation of rice milling industries to Bihar and Madhya Pradesh. He urged the farmers to resolve their concerns with their Chief Minister instead.
Recent events preceding the upcoming marches highlight the growing unrest among farmers. On October 26th, a large-scale protest in Punjab, sparked by delays in paddy procurement, resulted in the blockage of national highways in several districts, demonstrating the widespread dissatisfaction among farming communities.
The convergence of these various farmer organizations in a coordinated push towards Delhi underscores the sustained pressure on the government to address their demands regarding compensation and the crucial issue of a guaranteed MSP. The coming weeks will undoubtedly be a critical period in the ongoing dialogue between the farmers and the government.
