New Delhi: The Delhi Police has made tight security arrangements at the Delhi borders as farmers are staging a protest at Jantar Mantar on Monday to press for their demands on MSP as well as agitate against unemployment.


Delhi Police detained the farmers who were protesting at Ghazipur near the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border.


Earlier in the day, hundreds of farmers from different states began reaching Delhi to participate in a 'mahapanchayat' called by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) at Jantar Mantar.



While SKM leaders claimed at some locations, farmers were being stopped from reaching Jantar Mantar, the Delhi Police denied the allegation.


"The mahapanchayat is a one day-long peaceful event where we will reiterate our demands such as a legal guarantee on MSP and cancellation of Electricity Amendment Bill 2022 among others," said Abhimanyu Singh Kohar, SKM (non-political) member and organiser of the 'mahapanchayat', as quoted by news agency PTI.


He mentioned that during the farmers' movement, the Union government had promised to consider all our demands but they did "nothing".


"So here we are again to discuss and raise our demands and chalk out future strategy of the movement," Kohar added.


The latest protest was announced after several farmer leaders and organisations were present at Jantar Mantar for "Rozgar Sansad" (employment parliament) organised by the Samyukt Rojgar Andolan Samiti (SRAS).


Earlier, Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of farmers had announced the beginning of its 75-hour sit-in in Lakhimpur Kheri of Uttar Pradesh from August 18 for three days. 


The protesters in Lakhimpur Kheri, including farmers from Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Tamil Nadu as well, demanded a law on minimum support price (MSP) for their crops and withdrawal of the Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2022, reported news agency PTI.







Cemented barricade, additional personnel deployed


The Delhi Police has set up cemented barricades and deployed more personnel at the Delhi-Haryana border ahead of the farmers’ call to protest at Jantar Mantar on Monday, news agency ANI reported.






Security has been increased at the Ghazipur border on the Delhi-Meerut expressway ahead of the farmers' protest. 


Delhi Police Detain Farmer Leader Rakesh Tikait


Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait was Sunday detained by the Delhi Police at the Ghazipur border as he was tried entering the national capital to take part in an unemployment protest at Jantar Mantar, reported news agency PTI.


Tikait, the national spokesperson for the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) and a prominent face of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), has alleged that the Delhi police was working at the behest of the Centre and did not allow him to meet the unemployed youth.


A Delhi Police official said Tikait was stopped at the border around afternoon, according to the report. "Thereafter, he was detained and taken to Madhu Vihar police station where police spoke to him and requested him to return," Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Dependra Pathak informed about the development.


As per the DCP, Tikait "agreed" with the police request, and was "escorted back". Tikait was detained as the Delhi police were trying to prevent "undue gathering" in the national capital, the report quoted sources in the police.


In a tweet in Hindi, Tikait hit out at the government, saying "The Delhi Police working at the behest of the government cannot suppress the voice of the farmers. This arrest will bring a new revolution. This struggle will continue till the last breath. Won't stop, won't get tired, won't bow down." He also accused the Centre of oppressing the unemployed, the youth, farmers and labourers of the country.






"The Modi government is bent on oppression of the unemployed, the youth, farmers and labourers. Be prepared for a long struggle for the fight of rights. At the behest of the Centre, the Delhi Police did not allow (me) to meet the unemployed youth," he said in another tweet later.


SKM is an umbrella group comprising around 40 farm outfits, primarily demanding the proper implementation of minimum support price (MSP) for the crops.