Why Indian farmers are protesting in 2024?
Farmers in Noida and Greater Noida have been protesting since December 2023, calling for increased pay and developed plots in return for the land they previously had purchased from local development authorities. In support of these demands, the farmers’ groups called for a “kisan mahapanchayat” and a protest march to Parliament.
Farmers will not accept Electricity bill meter
Rakesh Tikat, president of Bhartiya Kisan Union on a live tv telecast mentioned that the government has come up with point of setting up electricity bill meter in the lands of farmers. The farmers on the other hand has mutually agreed with the government that the electricity meter will be setup in the farmers land after the year 2027.
According to Rakesh Tikat, as per the declaration letter shared by the government, free electricity was promised by the government. And the setting up of electric meter is a clear violation of declaration letter shared by the government in the past.
Farmers has to change tractors more than 10 years old
President of Bhartiya Kisan Union, Rakesh Tikat also mentioned the point that according to the new law the farmers are required to change the tractor if it is more than 10 years old. He playfully pointed out that the move of government is illogical and cannot be implemented among the farmers.
Budget 2024 brings controversial laws
The farmers mainly from the north states of India are not happy with the budget passed by the government of India recently. Rakesh Tikat, mentioned in an interview that the budget will increase the loan burden on the farmers inturn causing them to sell their lands to private players.
The private big companies will capture the lands of farmers and will sell the KCC. As per Rakesh Tikat, any such instances will not be dealt easily and farmers will protest across the nation to make their conditions favourable and sustainable.
Delhi Chalo on February 13. What is happening in Noida?
According to sources, Government of India has requested the farmers to stop the delhi march which is going to be held on February 13 and asked the farmers to attend a formal meeting session.
Key persons from the government will be attending the meeting including
Arjun Munda, Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare of India
Piyush Goyal, Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha
Nityanand Rai, Minister of State for Home Affairs of India
Police warns farmers not to take part in “Delhi Chalo” #Farmersportest2024
As per sources, local police authorities have been using loudspeakers to inform farmers not to take part in farmers protest otherwise strict action will be taken against the violaters.
It is heard in the video that police officials states that no farmer should take part in the farmer protest organized on Feb 13 and if anyone takes part in the protest then legal actions will be taken against the farmer and passport of violaters will be seized by the authorities.
Roads blocked to prevent farmers from entering Delhi
Haryana government blocks the Shambhu border and orders the suspension of bulk SMS and mobile internet in seven districts
The Haryana government on Saturday closed the state’s border with Punjab in Ambala and ordered the suspension of mobile internet and bulk SMS services in seven districts starting at 6 AM on February 11, ahead of the farmers’ planned Delhi Chalo march.
An official directive states that mobile internet services will be unavailable in the districts of Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad, and Sirsa until 23:59 on February 13.
Haryana Police sealed the highway at the Shambhu barrier over the Ghaggar River in Ambala on both sides using metal sheets and concrete blocks. According to officials, the Ghaggar river bed was also excavated to stop farmers from using tractors to access the highway. On February 13, the day of the planned march, police also made elaborate plans to seal the Punjab-Haryana borders in the districts of Jind and Fatehabad. They also released a traffic advisory asking commuters to limit their use of the main roads and to leave only in an emergency.
More than 200 farmers’ unions have announced that they will march to the nation’s capital on February 13 to put pressure on the Center by joining the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha.