Farmers from Uttar Pradesh, marching towards Parliament, were stopped by the police at the Noida-Delhi border. Some farmers tried to scale the police barricades but were pushed back by the cops. The farmers are protesting over their various demands, including a compensation hike for plot acquisitions.
Farmers from Noida and Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh started marching towards Delhi on Thursday morning. The police stopped their march near the Mahamaya flyover just outside Delhi in the Chilla area around 1 PM. The farmers had earlier stated their intent to gherao (surround in protest) Parliament. The protest triggered massive traffic jams along NH-24.
Various farmers' groups in Noida and Greater Noida began the protests in December 2023 to press for increased compensation and seek developed plots for the land that had been acquired from them by the local development authorities earlier.
The farmers are protesting under the banners of Sanyukt Kisan Morcha and Akhil Bhartiya Kisan Sabha.
According to the protesters, the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) disbursed compensation amounts using separate rates for different farmers instead of offering equal compensation to all. Farmers from 81 villages are participating in the protest march launched against the Noida Authority. They are demanding the Noida Authority either return 10% of their 'abadi plots' acquired under its name or pay out a fair compensation amount, reported news agency ANI.
Police said that prohibitory orders had been enforced in Noida and all borders had been sealed for 24 hours. Noida DIG (Additional CP-L&O) Shivhari Meena was quoted as saying by ANI, "Section 144 has been imposed & all the borders have been sealed for 24 hours. Heavy security deployment at all the borders. Arrangements have been made so that the people do not face any trouble. Security has been
heightened. We are in talks with the farmers. All the vehicles are being checked."