Farmers are expected to hold demonstrations on Delhi borders and other parts of the country on Friday to mark one year of the farmers’ protest against the Centre’s farm laws.
The Delhi Police on Thursday said security arrangements have been beefed up at various border points of the national capital.
A number of events have been planned across the country to mark the completion of a year of the movement.
Last week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the three controversial farm laws would be rolled back. The farmer unions welcomed the move but have said that they would not end their protest till the laws are formally repealed and other demands are met.
Over the course of 12 months of one of the largest and longest protest movements across the world and in history, crores of people took part in the movement, which spread to every state, every district and every village of India.
Apart from the government’s decision and cabinet ratification of a repeal of the three anti-farmer laws, the movement achieved several victories for the farmers, common citizens and the nation at large
Farmers to host nationwide rallies:
The farmers have been camping at three border points of Delhi — Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur — for the last one year. The movement against three new farm laws of the Centre began with a “Dilli Chalo” programme on November 26-27 last year.
The Centre has recently announced its decision to repeal the three farm laws. In a statement, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of over 40 farm unions that is spearheading the protest, said, “The fact that such a long struggle has to continue is a clear reflection of the insensitivity and arrogance of India’s government towards its toiling citizens.”
The farmers’ agitation will continue till their demands, including a legal guarantee for MSP, are fulfilled and also until the Centre holds parleys with them, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait said on Thursday.
Tikait and other farmer leaders took part in a ‘Maha Dharna’ organised by All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC), Telangana unit, marking one year of the countrywide agitation by the famers against the three contentious agri laws.