Farmers' Protest: Three Metro Stations Shut, Heavy Security Deployed As Agitators March To Delhi 

The protesters camping at Delhi borders will observe “Kheti Bachao, Loktantra Bachao Diwas” in the backdrop of the 46th anniversary of the promulgation of Emergency. 

Farmers' Protest (Image - PTI)

New Delhi: To mark the completion of seven months of their agitation against the Centre's three farm laws, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of 40 farmers' unions, has decided to march towards the national capital, and also hold protests outside Raj Bhawans across the country on Saturday, June 26. The protesting farmers will hand over memorandums demanding a repeal of the farm laws to the state governors. 

As a precautionary measure, the Delhi metro will keep shut three stations on its Yellow Line for four hours on Saturday. In a notice issued on Friday, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said that three stations on Yellow line namely -- Vishwavidyalaya, Civil Lines and Vidhan Sabha -- will remain closed for the public for about four hours, from from 10 am to 2 pm on Saturday. 

The protesters camping at Delhi borders will also observe “Kheti Bachao, Loktantra Bachao Diwas” (Save agriculture, Save Democracy Day) in the backdrop of the 46th anniversary of the promulgation of Emergency. 

Inderjit Singh, vice president of All India Kisan Sabha in Haryana, had earlier said that, "26 June 1975, was a black day in India's history as on this day the government had announced the Emergency. The present situation is not far from that. It is like an undeclared emergency. Our agitation against the Centre's three farm laws completes seven months on 26 June. We will observe the day as Kheti Bachao, Loktantra Bachao Diwas. We will protest outside Raj Bhawans across the country." 

Meanwhile, Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union on Friday announced that they will hold a three-day protest in Patiala from August 9 if the issues related to the farm laws are not resolved by then. 

A large number of farmers mainly from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh reached Tikri, Singhu and Ghazipur borders around the national capital on November 26, 2020 as part of their "Delhi Chalo" march against the Centre’s farm laws. 

The protesting farmers demand roll back of Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, Farmers' (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020. The Farmers also demand that a new law should be made  to guarantee minimum support price for crops.