Lakh of farmers protest in Muzaffarnagar
Farmers protesting against the farm laws introduced by the Union Government have gathered in huge numbers in Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh (UP) for the Mahapanchayat as a part of the intensified agitation against the laws.
The farmers’ leaders and the organisers of the Mahapanchayat claimed that five lakh farmers representing 300 farmers’ organisations are participating the protest at Muzaffarnagar. The Samyukt Kisan Morcha -- the umbrella body of 40 farmer unions spearheading the farmers'' agitation -- said the "Mahapanchayat" will prove that the agitation has the support of "all castes, religions, states, classes, small traders and all sections of the society".
The claim of the huge attendance is not only by the protesting leaders, but also by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament (MP) from Pilibhit Varun Gandhi has also tweeted that lakh of farmers have gathered in Muzzafarnagar. His tweet reads: Lakhs of farmers have gathered in protest today, in Muzaffarnagar. They are our own flesh and blood. We need to start re-engaging with them in a respectful manner: understand their pain, their point of view and work with them in reaching common ground.
Varun Gandhi’s tweet assumes importance, as he is a MP of a party responsible for the controversial farm laws and the Government led by the party is not willing to discuss the issues, raised by the farmers, with their leaders, though Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced that he is only a phone call away for the leaders to meet him to resolve the issues involved.
Varun Gandhi’s cousin and Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra tweed, “Farmers are the voice of this country. Farmers are the pride of the country. There is no arrogance of any power in front of the farmers' voice. The whole country is with the farmers in the fight to save agriculture and demand the right to their hard work.”
The Uttar Pradesh police has posted over 8,000 police personnel around the venue, according to reports.
The speakers at the rally said that while the government has claimed poor response for the rally, it is for the people to see lakh of farmers and their families assembled at the venue. Varun Gandhi has also attached a video to his tweeted, showing huge crowds of farmers.
The farmers’ leaders said that the farmers from various parts of the country are also participating in the agitation.
Farm leader Mahendra Singh Tikait, said that it took 90 years of struggle for India to attain freedom from the British, but it is uncertain how long it will take to get justice from this government.
The current agitation in Uttar Pradesh will be spread to other parts of the state and continue till the assembly elections in the state, the leaders said in their speeches. The leaders have vowed to campaign against the Yogi Adityanath government in UP, the way they campaigned against BJP during the West Bengal Assembly elections.
Yogendra Yadav, another leader said that the claim that with the entry of the likes of industrialists Ambani and Adani, the farmers would benefit, is false. He pointed out how the apple prices in Himachal Pradesh fell by Rs 18 per kilogram after the entry of Adani in the agricultural produce marketing.