New Delhi: Farmers along with their families and supporters take part in a protest march as they observe June 26 as 'Save Agriculture, Save Democracy' Day to mark seven months of their protest
Marking the completion of seven months of the ongoing farmers' agitation, the protesting farmers gathered near Gurudwara Nada Sahib in Haryana's Panchkula on Saturday. The protestors then marched towards the Governor's residence to submit a memorandum seeking repeal of new farm laws. Heavy security was deployed for the same.
Mohit Handa, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Panchkula said, "We've enough force to tackle any situation. We'll try to deal with the situation peacefully. We hope that all the programs today will be conducted without any (violation of) law and order situation."
"We have briefed our forces and have used sufficient manpower and technical resources. We are fully in touch with the situation," he added.
To mark the occasion, the farmers will take out a tractor rally today in the national capital and will submit memorandums to Governors across the country against the three farm laws.
Meanwhile, Bharatiya Kisan Union youth wing president Gaurav Tikait at Ghazipur (Delhi-Uttar Pradesh) border said, "We'll submit memorandums to Governors (for repeal of new farm laws) across the country today. The movement will remain peaceful."
Farmers camping at Delhi's Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur borders will observe today as the "Save Agriculture, Save Democracy Day" to mark the completion of seven months of their agitation.
The Samyukt Kisan Morcha said it will send a memorandum from all over India to the President on June 26, on farmers' "anguish and indignation" and appeal to him regarding getting the farmer laws repealed, and to get a legal guarantee of minimum support price for farmers.
Delhi police ups security at border points
The Delhi Police has tightened security arrangements across borders of the national capital in view of the anticipated protest march by farmers. Saturday marks the completion of seven months of the protests by the farmers, ever since they began their stir by camping at the Singhu border between Delhi and Haryana. The other two protest sites on the national capital's borders are Tikri and Ghazipur.
The protesting farmers have demanded the withdrawal of the Centre’s new farm laws and that a new law be made to guarantee a minimum support price (MSP) for their crops.
The Delhi Metro had shut its three main stations on the Yellow Line for four hours on Saturday.
"As advised by Delhi Police, in view of security reasons, three Metro stations of Yellow Line namely, Vishwavidyalaya, Civil Lines and Vidhan Sabha will remain closed for public from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm tomorrow i.e, 26.06.2021 (Saturday)," the DMRC had tweeted Friday night.
According to a statement by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of 40 farmer unions protesting at various Delhi border points, “Kheti Bachao, Loktantra Bachao Diwas” (save agriculture, save democracy) is being marked all over India today on the completion of seven months of the farmers’ protests and 46 years after promulgation of Emergency in India in 1975.
Thousands of farmers across India plan to march in rallies to Raj Bhavans in different states on Saturday. As an expression of solidarity, one such rally is also being planned in Massachusetts, USA, it said.
Thousands of farmers from Saharanpur and Sisauli in western Uttar Pradesh reached Ghazipur Gate led by BKU chief Rakesh Tikait. Protests by farmers growing wheat, sugarcane, mango, apple, green gram, paddy, jowar and others continue in different parts of the country for remunerative guaranteed prices, the statement said.
The representatives of farmers will also seek to submit memoranda to governors in various states on Saturday.
