Farmers’ ‘Mahapanchayat’ today; Police issues helpline no to aid public during traffic disruptions

Following a month-long encampment at Delhi’s borders, farmers participating in protests are preparing to enter the national capital to assert their demands, notably for a legal guarantee ensuring price stability across all crops.

The Delhi Police has authorized the farmers to hold a ‘Kisan Mazdoor Mahapanchayat’ at Delhi’s Ramlila Ground today. However, they have imposed specific conditions, including the prohibition of tractor trolleys, marching, and capping the gathering at a maximum of 5,000 participants.

Scheduled from 11 am to 2 pm, the assembly aims to escalate opposition against government policies, particularly focusing on issues like Minimum Support Price (MSP) and the implementation of recommendations from the Swaminathan Commission. Led by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), the coalition of farmers’ groups that spearheaded the 2020-21 protests against the three central agricultural laws, today’s protest aims to adopt a resolution titled ‘Sankalp Patra.’ This resolution will outline strategies against pro-corporate policies and announce future actions, especially regarding the upcoming general elections.

In anticipation of the ‘Kisan Mazdoor Mahapanchayat,’ the Gautam Buddh Nagar Police issued an advisory warning commuters about potential traffic disruptions, particularly near the Delhi borders in Noida. They mentioned the possibility of traffic slowdowns and announced rigorous vehicle checks before allowing passage towards the national capital, with potential diversions if needed.

To address potential traffic challenges, both the Delhi Police and the Gautam Buddh Nagar Police will step up checks and install barriers at all Noida-Delhi borders. Traffic diversions might be implemented if congestion increases on routes from Gautam Buddh Nagar to the Delhi border. To aid the public during traffic disruptions, the police have provided a traffic helpline number – 9971009001 – and recommended commuters to explore alternative routes to minimize inconveniences.

This event coincides with ongoing sit-ins by other farmer unions, including the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) and SKM (Non-Political), at Shambhu and Khanauri on the Punjab-Haryana border. These sit-ins commenced a month ago following the disruption of their “Delhi Chalo” march by security forces.