Thousands of farmers gather in Delhi for 2-day protest rally; demand fair MSP, loan waiver

On Friday, the farmers will begin their march from Ramlila Ground to Parliament Street.

Image: ANI

New Delhi: Thousands of farmers gathered in Delhi to converged at the Ramlila ground today ahead of the planned gherao of Parliament tomorrow. A two-day protest rally starting from today has been planned by farmers to press for their demands of loan-waiver and fair remunerative prices for their produce. Farmers from states like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and others will join the rally. They will march on four different routes in the national capital, starting at three major railway stations Anand Vihar, Nizamuddin and Bijwasan  and at Sabzi Mandi, their leaders said. Tomorrow the farmers will begin their march from Ramlila Ground to Parliament Street. All the marchers will pour in at Ramlila Ground in the heart of the city by evening. Farmers from Delhi, Punjab and Haryana started trickling in by 10:30 am. All India Kisan Sabha said by 3 pm, farmers from across the country will arrive at Ramlila Ground. The two-day rally will be “one of the largest congregations of farmers in Delhi”, the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) claimed. A cultural programme is supoosed to be held at Ramlila Ground today where prominent singers and poets from rural India would perform.

Delhi: Farmers who gathered at Bijwasan, on their way to Ramlila Maidan. Farmers have gathered at different locations in the city & will march to Ramlila Maidan. They are holding a 2-day protest from today over their demands, including debt relief & better MSP for crops pic.twitter.com/pmN38f26cV

— ANI (@ANI) November 29, 2018

Prominent lawyer and activist Prashant Bhushan tweeted in solidarity with farmers. "Over 3L farmers have committed suicide in India in last 15 years , due to successive governments betraying them. Tomorrow 1 lakh farmers from across the country are marching to Delhi to ask for fair prices and freedom from debt. Let's stand in solidarity with them," he said.

Over 3L farmers have committed suicide in India in last 15 yrs,due to successive govts betraying them. Tomorrow 1 lakh farmers from across the country are marching to Delhi to ask for fair prices& freedom from debt. Let's stand in solidarity with them#dillichalo#KisanMuktiMarch

— Prashant Bhushan (@pbhushan1) November 28, 2018