December 3, 2024 - Farmers protest entered the ninth day today after around 5,000 farmers from Uttar Pradesh, demanding adequate compensation for land acquired by the government, have been agitating since November 25.

Yesterday, the protesters began a Delhi Chalo march wanting to highlight their plight in front of the Winter session of Parliament. Travelling both on foot and by tractor, they marched to the Parliament but were stopped at the Noida-Delhi border where they have since been sitting on a dharna. Security personnel are monitoring the situation at the Rashtirya Dalit Prerna Sthal in Noida where the protestors are continuing their sit-in.

The protest is led by the Bhartiya Kisan Parishad (BKP), Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), which is an umbrella organisation of 12 farmers groups, and other farmers’ groups.

Farmers from 20 districts of Uttar Pradesh, including Aligarh and Agra, took part in the march towards Delhi raising slogans of Bol Kisan, Halla Bol. Thousands overcame police barricades, barbed wires and other obstructions laid in their path by the UP police.

Demand of the farmers

The farmers are demanding compensation, benefits and a legal guarantee on the Minimum Support Price (MSP) under the new agricultural laws. Their demands are as such:

1. Increased compensation – Demanding 64.7% more compensation under the old Land Acquisition Law and four times the market rate for land acquired after January 1, 2024.
2. Plot allocation – Allocation of 10% of plots under the old acquisition law and 20% for land acquired after the specified date.
3. Rehabilitation and employment – Demanding jobs and rehabilitation for landless farmers’ children.
4. Implementation of high power committee orders.
5. Proper settlement of populated areas.

"In 1985-1986, NTPC acquired the land of 2200 farmers. They gave a total of 182 jobs. They had said that whichever family loses its land will get a job. But they did not fulfill their promises and have given almost no compensation. We want compensation and jobs," a protesting farmer told reporters.

The farmers have given a week's time to the government to fulfill their various demands. They said that for the time being they would continue to sit at Dalit Prerana Sthal after authorities assured them that the Chief Secretary would meet to "discuss and settle their demands".

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has directed Punjab farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal to persuade the protesting farmers not to obstruct highways and inconvenience people. A Bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan said this while disposing a Habeas Corpus petition with respect to his alleged illegal detention. Dallewal is on a fast-unto death at the Khanauri border point as a protest against the government’s lackadaisical attitude towards the farmers’ demands.

With Media Inputs