Kisan Kranti Yatra: Farmers to continue protest; Schools, colleges shut in Ghaziabad

Farmers who are participating in the movement are demanding for complete loan waiver and reduction in electricity tariff, among other requirements. They are also seeking a provision of a pension to every farmer aged above 60.

Police personnel clash with farmers protesting at Delhi-UP border during Kisan Kranti Padyatra in New Delhi, Tuesday. PTI Photo

NEW DELHI: In Delhi, heavy security has been deployed at the bordering areas on the arrival of 'Kisan Kranti Padyatra', which is being staged by farmers under the banner of Bharatiya Kisan Union. The march is being organised from Patanjali (Uttarakhand) to Kisan Ghat (Delhi) via Muzaffarnagar, Daurala, Partapur, Modi Nagar/Muradnagar, Hindon Ghat between September 23 to October 2. In Delhi, the protesters, who wanted to march towards Rajghat, were stopped at the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border on Tuesday with police using water cannons to disperse them. The protesters are seeking complete loan waiver, lower electricity tariff including other demands. They had talked to CM Yogi Adityanath where the government had said that they would help but farmers claimed that the talk was not fruitful. Earlier on September 30, the Union had announced that their 'Padyatra' that has begun from Haridwar will reach the national capital on the occasion of the 149th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on October 2. KISAN KRANTI YATRA: ALL THAT HAPPENED ON TUESDAY:

• Ghaziabad District Magistrate has ordered closure of schools and colleges for tomorrow in the wake of farmers' protest.
• The protesting farmers decided to stay put at the Delhi border, where they have been stopped by the police from entering the national capital.

• Naresh Tikait, the chief of Bharat Kisan Union (BKU), which has given the protest call, said the farmers are "not satisfied" with the government's assurance. "We will discuss this and then decide on future course of action. I can't decide anything alone, our committee will take the decision," he said.
• Govt didn't clear its stand on the main issue of the farmers - C2+50. That is why the farmers are unsatisfied. It didn't clear its stand even on the other main issue of loan waiver. They said they will discuss it in detail: Yudhvir Singh, Bharatiya Kisan Union Spokesperson
• We had a discussion on 11 points. Govt agreed on 7 points but didn't agree on 4 points yet. They said they will have to think about those meetings in a further meeting after which they will tell us, as it is a financial matter: Yudhvir Singh, Bharatiya Kisan Union Spokesperson
• Home Minister Rajnath Singh met the farmers' leaders and discussed their demands and have reached an agreement on the majority of the issues. Farmers' leaders, UP ministers Laxmi Narayan ji, Suresh Rana ji and I will go to meet farmers now: MoS Agriculture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat
• Meeting between the farmers leaders and Rajnath Singh ends. three ministers are expected to visit the protest location and meet farmers leaders.
• MoS Agriculture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat says 'Home Minister Rajnath Singh met the farmer's leaders and discussed their demands and have reached an agreement on the majority of the issues. Farmers' leaders, UP ministers Laxmi Narayan ji, Suresh Rana ji & I will go to meet farmers now.'
• Rajnath Singhs says police was not aggressive. It only defended itself against some aggressive protestors.
• On Twitter, Delhi CM Kejriwal says demands of farmers valid.

दिल्ली सबकी है। किसानों को दिल्ली में आने से नहीं रोका जा सकता। किसानों की माँगे जायज़ हैं। उनकी माँगें मानी जायें।

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) October 2, 2018

• Rashtriya Lok Dal's Ajit Singh supports farmers protest.
• MHA sources claim that talks between HM and BKU leaders are progressing well towards a solution.
• On 'Kisan Kranti Padyatra' stopped at Delhi-UP border, Delhi Chief Minister told ANI that 'farmers should be allowed to enter Delhi. Why are they not being allowed to enter Delhi? This is wrong. We are with the farmers: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on 'Kisan Kranti Padyatra' stopped at Delhi-UP border.'
• Police uses water cannons and tear gas to disperse protesters.

• While exclusively talking to ABP News,  Bhartiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait questioned the deployment of security forces and asked the government "are we terrorists?"

• The police are trying to contain the protesters at UP-Delhi border.
• A meeting of farmers leader Rakesh Tikait and Rajnath Singh is expected to happen around 1 PM today.
• Section 144 of CPC has been imposed in several areas of the Delhi.
• UP’s two senior officers sent in a helicopter to negotiate with the farmers on their demands.