After spending a month at the borders, farmers will enter Delhi today for 'Mahapanchayat' event

New Delhi:
After a month of camping at Delhi’s borders, protesting farmers will march into the capital to press their demands, which include a legal safety net for pricing of all crops.

Here are 10 facts about today’s ‘Kisan Mahapanchayat’ in Delhi:

Delhi Police today gave permission to farmers to hold ‘Kisan Mazdoor Mahapanchayat’ at Ramlila ground in Delhi.
However, the police imposed some conditions on the farmers – no tractor trolleys, no processions, no gathering of more than 5,000 protesters.
The rally, scheduled to be held from 11 am to 2 pm, is aimed at “intensifying the struggle against government policies” and will focus on issues such as MSP and implementation of Swaminathan Committee recommendations.
Today’s protest will be led by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of farmers’ organizations and the spearhead of farmers’ protests against the three central farm laws in 2020-21.
SKM said they plan to pass a resolution called ‘Sankalp Patra’ outlining the strategy for pro-corporate policies and announcing future actions, especially in the context of the upcoming general elections.
Police have issued a warning as traffic in and around Delhi may be affected.
According to a statement from Delhi Traffic Police, Jawaharlal Nehru Marg, Barakhamba Road, Bahadurshah Zafar Marg, Tolstoy Marg, Asaf Ali Road, Jai Singh Road, Swami Vivekanand Marg, Sansad Marg, Netaji Subhash Marg, Baba Kharag Singh Marg, Minto Road, Ashoka due to farmers Gathering in Delhi, roads, Maharaja Ranjeet Singh flyover, Connaught Circus, Bhavbhuti Marg, DDU Marg and Chaman Lal Marg are likely to be affected.
Farmers from Punjab reached Delhi borders on February 13 seeking a peaceful protest at Ramlila Maidan. They were then denied permission and stopped by police at the Punjab-Haryana border. Water cannons and tear gas were used in the confrontation between farmers and security personnel.
Farmers began marches with carts filled with rations that could last for months, claiming they would not return until their demands were met. Police put up nails and concrete blocks on the roads to prevent vehicles from entering Delhi.
Protesting farmers have rejected the Centre’s proposal that the government agency would procure pulses, maize and cotton at the minimum safe price (MSP) within five years. Apart from providing legal cover to MSPs, their other demands include farm loan waiver and implementation of Swaminathan Committee recommendations.