Police in New Delhi have tightened security and put up concrete barricades on the roads in an attempt to block thousands of farmers converging on India's capital on Monday for a day-long protest.
The Samyukt Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of 40 farmer organisations, called for a protest to demand the proper introduction of a minimum support price (MSP) for crops.
It has also called for measures to make all farmers debt-free and the withdrawal of all criminal charges against protesters involved in the year-long movement.
“It will be a one-day programme which will be conducted with complete peace and discipline,” the farmers' body said.
“If the government tries to create any kind of disturbance, then the government itself will be responsible for that.”
The Samyukt Kisan Morcha is also demanding the arrest of the minister of state in the Ministry of Interior, Ajay Mishra, whose son Ashish Mishra is accused of shooting at farmers and then mowing them down with a car in Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri in October last year.
Eight people, including four farmers, were killed after violence broke out during the Lakhimpur Kheri protest against new farm laws.
Farmers from northern Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and southern Karnataka states began to arrive via train in the capital's Jantar Mantar assembly on Monday morning, wearing green turbans and carrying flags with slogans against the government.
There was a heavy police presence at Singhu border, near Haryana, and Tikri, near Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad — the tension points where hundreds of thousands farmers converged and protested, for a year, against the three contentious farm laws in November 2020.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government pushed the bills that sought to deal with the sale of produce in the free market, contract farming and the deregulation of food commodities.
The government termed the laws “historic” and the “biggest reforms” in the agriculture sector but was forced to roll them back after unrelenting protests by farmers who said they were not in their best interests.
The farmers also said protests would continue until legislation to guarantee minimum prices was passed.
A three-kilometre traffic jam ensued at the Delhi-Ghazipur border as commuters headed for New Delhi were stuck due to barricades set up.
Rakesh Tikait, a top protest leader who led the demonstration at Delhi’s Gazipur border, said he was detained by police when he entered the city to participate in the protests on Sunday.
“The Delhi Police working on the behest of the government cannot suppress the voice of the farmers. This arrest will bring a new revolution. This struggle will continue till the last breath,” Mr Tikait said.
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
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