Hundreds of farmers from Punjab are expected to reach Delhi on Thursday to participate in the “Kisan Mazdoor Mahapanchayat” at Ramlila Maidan. The Delhi Police has granted permission for the farmers to convene the ‘mahapanchayat’ under the stipulation that the attendance does not surpass 5,000 individuals. The police have prohibited the presence of tractor trolleys and restricted them from performing marches at Ramlila Maidan.
“Our journey will be on foot from Uchana to Jind, and then we’ll travel by train from Jind to Delhi,” a farmer told ANI. Despite protesting for more than a year and presenting our demands, we have not seen any action from the government. Protestor Suresh Kumar added noting that even after suffering losses from hailstorms, they received no government assistance. As per reports Manjit Dhaner, leader of the BKU (Ekta-Dakaunda) Dhaner group has stated that they anticipate over 30,000 farmers from Punjab to arrive in the capital city.
09.25 AM: Bhartiya Kisan Union Leader Calls For Accountability
Bhartiya Kisan Union (Tikait) leader from Uttar Pradesh, Hoshiyar Singh urged the government to remember the promises made during previous Delhi Protest. “We have come here to remind the government that the promises should be fulfilled, and farmers should be provided apt price of their crops,” he told PTI.
VIDEO | Kisan Mahapanchayat: “The central government had made some promises during our Delhi protest. However, none of the promises have been fulfilled so far. So, we have come here to remind the government that the promises should be fulfilled, and farmers should be provided apt… pic.twitter.com/vBNn75pF1z
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 14, 2024
09.00 AM: Heavy Turnout Of Farmers At Ramlila Maidan
Farmers have commenced congregating at Ramlila Maidan. Visuals indicate a significant influx of farmers arriving at the venue, with numerous buses assembled outside the gates. The Mahapanchayat is slated to take place from 11 am to 2:30 pm.
#BreakingNews: दिल्ली के रामलीला मैदान में आज किसानों की महापंचायत, बड़ी संख्या में मैदान पहुंच रहे किसान#FarmersProtest #KisanAndolan2024 #KisanMahapanchayat #Delhi | @supreetanchor @Nidhijourno @anushkagarg2000 pic.twitter.com/kl2hPKwVxm
— Zee News (@ZeeNews) March 14, 2024
08.32 AM: Traffic Advisory For Commuters
Several roads including Jawaharlal Nehru Marg, Barakhamba Road, Bahadurshah Zafar Marg, Tolstoy Marg, Asaf Ali Road, Jai Singh Road, Swami Vivekanand Marg, Sansad Marg, Netaji Subhash Marg, Baba Kharag Singh Marg, Minto Road, Ashoka Road, Maharaja Ranjeet Singh flyover, Connaught Circus, Bhavbhuti Marg, DDU Marg, and Chaman Lal Marg are expected to experience disruptions due to a gathering of farmers in Delhi, reported PTI.
There are potential traffic diversions at locations such as Delhi Gate, Mir Dard Chowk, Ajmeri Gate Chowk, Guru Nanak Chowk, Kamla Market, Paharganj Chowk, Jhandewalan roundabout, Maharaja Ranjeet Singh flyover from Barakhambha Road to Guru Nanak Chowk, Barakhamba Road, Janpath Road, KG Marg crossing, and the roundabout of GPO (Gol Post Office) starting from 6 am on Thursday.
Additionally, commuters traveling towards ISBT, the railway station, or the airport should carefully plan their journeys and allocate sufficient time.
A Month Of ‘Delhi Chalo’ March
The “mahapanchayat” convenes concurrently with separate sit-ins by the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) and the non-political wing of the SKM. These groups have been stationed at Shambhu and Khanauri along the Punjab-Haryana border for a month, following the interruption of their ‘Delhi Chalo’ march by security forces. While the SKM is not actively participating in the ‘Delhi Chalo’ movement, it has offered its backing to these offshoot groups at both locations.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), comprising 37 farm unions, posited the idea of ‘Mahapanchayat’ during a gathering in Chandigarh on February 22. Subsequently, on March 11, they got approval from both the Delhi Police and municipal corporation for the peaceful assembly. Responding to the call from the SKM, farmers are planning a march on foot from Uchana to Jind, followed by participation in a Mahapanchayat at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan.