New Delhi, October 3: Thousands of farmers called off their protest march to the national capital on Wednesday, saying the government had met “most of their demands”, a day after a massive standoff with police at the city’s border with Uttar Pradesh.
Around 5,000 farmers were allowed into Delhi post midnight and reached their targeted destination, Kisan Ghat, and left by 6 am, deputy commissioner of police (east) Pankaj Singh said.
Close to 20 people, including farmers and police personnel, were injured in the clash between the protesters and security personnel at the Delhi-UP gate border on NH-24 when the Delhi Police denied them entry into the capital around 11.30 am on Tuesday.
Police had used tear gas shells and water cannons when a group of protesters tried to break the iron and concrete barriers by ramming their tractor-trolleys into them.
Led by Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), the farmers had started their Kisan Kranti Yatra march from Haridwar in Uttarakhand on September 23 and had reached the Delhi border on Tuesday by foot, tractors and private vehicles.
Their 15-point charter of demands included raising crop prices, unconditional waiver of loans, reduction of electricity and diesel prices, and payment of sugarcane arrears, among others.
The farmers said they have reached an agreement with the government, which, according to them, has accepted “most of the demands”, including raising crop prices, IANS reported.
“A formal announcement in this regard will be made within six days by the government,” Rakesh Tikait, national BKU spokesperson, told the news agency, shortly before the farmers called off their march.
BKU chief Naresh Tikait declared it as the “victory of farmers” and said the BJP government has failed in its “motives”.
The government has also assured the farmers of bearing the costs for the repair of tractors that were damaged during the standoff with the police at Uttar Pradesh-Delhi border on Tuesday, the agency said.
The standoff at the border had led to massive traffic snarls in Ghaziabad and arterial roads in Delhi. Schools and educational institutions were shut and a massive force was deployed.
Source Hindustan Times
