Kisan Kranti Padyatra: Around 20,000 farmers marching towards Delhi amid tear gas and water cannons attack; here's why

On 2 October, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, around 20,000 farmers are marching in the national capital braving tears gas, water canon and lathicharge to press for their 15-point charter of demands.

Despite tight security, heavy barricading and prohibitory orders across Delhi, the farmer rally led by Bhartiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait are marching from Haridwar to New Delhi with their demands. Loan waivers, clearance of pending sugarcane payments and implementation of the Swaminathan Committee Report are some the key demands.

“We will continue our march till our demands are met. The talks (with the ministers) should go on. Whenever we feel that our work is done, we will stop our protest. If farmers are given an assurance, they will be happy. We have already given four years to the government to meet our demands. It is time that our demands are met,” Tikait was quoted by The Hindustan Times as saying.

They are also demanding free electricity for running tubewells, the application of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna to all crops, the assurance of a minimum income for farmers and monthly pension of Rs 5,000 for small and marginal farmers who completed 60 years of age, rehabilitation of families of farmers who had committed suicide.

The farmers also want that diesel tractors should be kept out of the ambit of National Green Tribunal directions that have necessitated the removal of all 10-year-older diesel vehicles from the National Capital Region.

Also read: 2nd October: Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibbal praises PM Narendra Modi’s flagship program ‘Swachh Bharat’; says ‘it’s exceptional’