Thousands of farmers from across the country, chanting 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan' beat the shivery Thursday night at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan to march to Parliament today. Months before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the farmers thronged the national capital as part of their two-day protest to press for demands, including loan waivers, better prices for their produce and a special three-week session of Parliament to discuss the prevailing agrarian crisis in the country. "Farmers have converged in Delhi to remind the Union government that the party leading it had made promises of waiving off loans in its manifesto. And, it's been four and a half years since they came to power," said one of the farmers amid the chants of "Ayodhya nahi, karzi maaf chahiye (We don't need Ayodhya but debt waiver)".
Here are the Highlights from farmers march in Delhi:
16:44 pm:Â Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah speaks at farmers' protest at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi.
16:40 pm:Â This is the strength of the voice of farmers. This cannot be stopped by anyone, says Gandhi.
16:30 pm:Â There are many political parties gathered here. We might have different ideologies but when it comes to farmers and youth, we stand united for their rights, says the Congress president.
16:25 pm:Â If PM Modi can waive off loans worth Rs 3,50,000 crore of India's richest then it is possible to waive off farm loans: Rahul Gandhi.
16:21 pm:Â Ask Delhiites, all of them are saying that Modi ji is harmful for Delhi. He interferes in every damn thing of the national capital, Kejriwal told media after his address at farmers march.
16:11 pm:Â Opposition leaders including Rahul Gandhi, Arvind Kejriwal and Farooq Abdullah join Kisan Muskti March in Delhi, show opposition strength at farmers march.
16:07 pm:Â Five months are left, I demand that the Central Govt implement Swaminathan report, says Kejriwal at farmers march in Delhi.
16:05 pm: After Rahul Gandhi, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal takes on PM Narendra Modi.
15:57 pm:Â Modi ji had promised MSP If the loans of industrialists can be waived off, then the debt of farmers must be waived off as well. I assure the farmers of India, we are with you, don't feel afraid, says Rahul Gandhi.
15:53 pm:Â Modi ji had promised MSP will be increased, PM promised bonus, but look at the situation right now, empty speeches are being given and nothing else: Rahul Gandhi at farmers march in Delhi.
15:50 pm: Rahul Gandhi addresses a gathering at Kisan Mukti March in Delhi.
15:39 pm:Â Congress President Rahul Gandhi will be joining the Kisan Mukti March shortly to stand in support of India's farmers.
12:50 am: Video of farmers crossing an elevated road in the national capital. They reached the Parliament Street from Ramlila Maidan to hold a protest march to the Parliament.
12:10 am: The agitating farmers, under the banner of All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC), have reached Parliament street: Delhi Traffic Police
11:30 am:Â Farmers from all across the nation hold protest for the second day over their demands of debt relief, better MSP for crops, among others; latest visuals from near Jantar Mantar.
10:40 am:Â Visuals from near Ramlila Maidan on the second day of 2-day protest by farmers from all across the nation, who are asking for debt relief, better MSP for crops, among other demands.
10:20 am: Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah, Loktantrik Janata Dal’s Sharad Yadav likely to attend the rally.
09:25 am: Delhi police has said that the farmers didn't seek permission to march to Parliament, therefore, they will not be allowed. The police said that over 3,000 personnel up to the rank of sub-inspector have been deployed in the central district.
09:00 am: Delhi police has issued a traffic advisory to commuters. The police advised people to keep out of the areas around Parliament until at least 6 pm when the farmers are expected to disperse.
08:45 am:Â Ahead of the farmers' march, security around Parliament has been tightened. During their October 2 protest, the farmers were not allowed to go near the Parliament. They were 'welcomed' with barricades, water cannons and tear gas shells. However, this time, the leaders of the movement are hoping the authorities will cooperate and allowed them to gherao Parliament.
08:30 am: Farmers from Tamil Nadu carrying skulls of their colleagues who committed suicide. They threatened to march naked if not allowed to go to Parliament.
08:00 am: Farmers from across the country started gathering at Ramlila Maidan from Thursday morning to participate in a 2-day protest from over their demands, including debt relief better MSP for crops. (Early visuals)
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