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Kisan Padyatra: BKU president Tikait says farmers will not accept government assurance, to go ahead with protest

News Nation Bureau | Edited By : Srishty Choudhury | Updated on: 02 Oct 2018, 05:05:45 PM
Kisan Kranti Padyatra to reach Delhi today, heavy security deployed

New Delhi:

Farmers participating in the Kisan Kranti Padyatra have reached the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border amid tight security and heavy deployment of forces. The rally is being staged by farmers under the banner of Bharatiya Kisan Union. Farmers participating in the movement are raising slogans to put forth their demand for complete loan waiver and reduction in electricity tariff, among other demands. Farmers staging the protest movement also demanded provision of a pension to every farmer aged above 60.

Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Radha Mohan Singh and Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Gajendra Singh Shekawat are holding talks with the farmer’s delegation at Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s residence, said sources.

“We are not seeking any alms from the government. We want our right,” said Harmik Singh, a farmer who came from Meerut. Farmers are in distress because of high electricity prices and fuel rates shooting through the roof, he said. “Aap ko 500 rupiya ka gas theek lagta hai? (Does LPG price of Rs 500 sound right to you,” he asked.

Another farmer claimed over 3 lakh peasants are marching towards Raj Ghat. Their list of demands includes unconditional loan waiver for farmers, clearing of dues by sugar mills, higher prices for crops, free electricity for farms and a cut in diesel prices.

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Here are the live updates:

# 16: 14: "The government didn't clear its stand on the main issue of the farmers - C2+50. That is why the farmers are unsatisfied. It didn't clear its stand even on the other main issue of loan waiver. They said they will discuss it in detail," says Yudhvir Singh, Bharatiya Kisan Union spokesperson.

# 16:15: "We had a discussion on 11 points. The governmnet agreed on seven points but didn't agree on four points yet. They said they will have to think about those meetings in a further meeting after which they will tell us, as it is a financial matter," says Yudhvir Singh, Bharatiya Kisan Union spokesperson.

#16:00: Bharatiya Kisan Union president Naresh Tikait says farmers will not accept govt assurance, will go ahead with the protest.

#15:05: TV reports suggest the Centre has accepted four out of five demands of farmers. The main demand on loan waiver has not been accepted by the Centre. The protest will continue. The Congress is likely to join the protest.    

#14:15: Farmers aren't terrorists or naxals,they're coming with demands.Don't they have right to do that?SS Chouhan govt killed farmers in Mandsaur,today they're about to lose MP.Warning Modi ji if injustice with farmers continue, he'll lose Delhi: R Shetty, Swabhimani Sattkar Sanghatana

#14:00 pm: The meeting between the farmer's delegation and the ministers has concluded and according to sources the demands of the farmers have been agreed upon. Union and state ministers will soon announce the outcome of the meeting.

#13:50 pm: JDU has condemned the attack on protesting farmers.

#13:35 pm: Police action on farmers is wrong. Our leaders are holding a meeting with Home Minister Rajnath Singh. We will decide our next course of action after consultation with our leaders, said Rakesh Tikait, Bhartiya Kisan Union.

#12:25 pm: Uttar Pradesh minister Suresh Rana arrives at Home Minister Rajnath Singh's residence.

#12:14 pm: On birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, Modi govt has shown that it is no different from the pre-independence British govt in India.British govt then used to exploit the farmers&today Modi govt is firing tear gas shells at farmers: Randeep Surjewala, Congress spokesperson.

#11:40 am: This Govt has not fulfilled the promises it made to farmers, so it is all but natural that farmers would protest. It is unfortunate and we fully support the farmers: Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav

#11:30 am: Farmers should be allowed to enter Delhi. Why are they not being allowed to enter Delhi? This is wrong. We are with the farmers: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal

#11:25 am: Police use teargas shells to disperse protesters

#11:20 am: Protesters break barricades at the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border and enter the national capital. Police use water cannons.

#11:10 am: Protesters at the UP-Delhi Border

# 9:55 am: Farmers angry for being stopped at the Delhi-UP border. "If we don't tell our government about our problems then whom do we tell? Do we go to Pakistan or Bangladesh?" asks Naresh Tikait, President, Bharatiya Kisan Union.

 

#9:30 am: Farmers gather at Delhi-UP border during Kisan Kranti Padyatra

 

The march, which commenced on September 23, was organised from Patanjali (Uttarakhand) to Kisan Ghat (Delhi) via Muzaffarnagar, Daurala, Partapur, Modi Nagar/Muradnagar, Hindon Ghat, the Delhi Police said. It will pass through Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh) and will proceed via Preet Vihar and Geeta Colony flyover in east Delhi on Tuesday.

The Delhi Police on Monday had issued prohibitory orders in East Delhi under section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code, would be in force until October 8. It covers Preet Vihar, Jagatpuri, Shakarpur, Madhu Vihar, Ghazipur, Mayur Vihar, Mandawli, Pandav Nagar, Kalyanpuri and New Ashok Nagar police station limits.In northeast Delhi, the prohibitory orders were issued by Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northeast) Atul Kumar Thakur and will be in force till October 4.

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On September 30, the Bharatiya Kisan Union had announced that the rally which began in Haridwar will reach Delhi on Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday on October 2.

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First Published : 02 Oct 2018, 09:10:23 AM

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