UP farmers inch closer to Delhi; break police barricades, massive jams at borders | Know key demands

PTC News Desk: As farmers inch closer towards Delhi, massive traffic jams were witnessed at the Delhi borders. Meanwhile Protesting farmers broke police barricades which were installed in huge numbers along with deployment of massive forces to stop the farmers from marching towards parliament in the wake of ongoing winter session.   

The farmers are protesting in the wake of their key demands for compensation and benefits under the new agricultural laws. 

Farmers from 20 districts, including Gautam Buddha Nagar, Bulandshahr, Aligarh and Agra, are part of the march. The protest has prompted the authorities to heighten security including installation of barricades and diversion of routes.

The protesting farmers belong to the Bhartiya Kisan Parishad (BKP) and other allied groups, including the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) and Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM). The protest, led by BKP leader Sukhbir Khalifa, will begin at 12 pm near the Mahamaya Flyover in Noida and farmers will march towards Delhi on foot and tractors.

The key demands of the farmers include allocation of 10 per cent plots and 64.7 per cent increased compensation under old acquisition law, four times the market rate compensation and 20 per cent plots should be given on the land acquired after January 1, 2014. They are also demanding  children of landless farmers to be given the benefit of employment and rehabilitation, government orders on the issues passed by the High Power Committee and proper settlement of the populated areas.