Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait addressed the farmers over the phone after he was detained on the Agra-Noida Yamuna Expressway and stopped from proceeding towards Noida. Several other participating farmers have also been stopped by the authorities. Tikaitwas on his way to Noida and Greater Noida to protest against the arrest of more than 160 farmers, who staged a sit-in at the Dalit Prerna Sthal, demanding land allocation and higher compensation for their land acquired by the government.
Tikait said if the demands of the farmers are not met then they will march to Lucknow and not Delhi.
Noida Police detained protesting farmers at Dalit Prerna Sthal on Tuesday and cleared the site after relocating them the previous day to resolve the traffic chaos caused by their "Delhi Chalo" march.
The farmers, primarily from Uttar Pradesh, had been demanding adequate compensation for land acquired under the Land Acquisition Act, 2013. The protest coincided with Parliament's Winter Session, prompting heavy police deployment and multiple layers of barricades along the Noida-Delhi border.
On Tuesday morning, farmers accused the police of harassing their leaders. By noon, heavy police presence at Dalit Prerna Sthal led to the site being cordoned off. Senior officers arrived with buses, and the protesting farmers were taken into custody and transported away. It remains unclear where they were taken.