The farmers' agitation against the three Central farm laws entered the 100th day on Saturday. Hundreds of farmers riding trolleys reached the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) Expressway from the Singhu border in the morning.
The farmers blocked the 135-km-long Western Peripheral Expressway in Kundli, also known as KMP Expressway. The blockage is slated from 11 am to 4 pm to mark 100 days of protest against the Centre's farm laws.
Those protesting at Singhu Border are also reaching Kundli while blocking the toll plazas falling on the way. Besides this, farmers from Ghazipur and Tikri borders will block Dasna and Bahadurgarh toll plaza, respectively.
Today marks a crucial point in the protest. "We are completely prepared. Unless and until the government listens to us and meets our demands, we will not move from here," Rakesh Tikait of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), was quoted as saying by a news agency.
The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), which is leading the protests, has also given a call to free the toll plazas near the highways that are to be blocked and wave black flags from offices and residences across the country.
The Samyukt Kisan Morcha has also requested the common people to wave black flags at homes and offices to support the movement and protest against the government.
Security arrangements heightened in Palwal district on the 135-km-long Western Peripheral Expressway, also known as Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) Expressway due to five-hour blockade called by farmers.
Farmers from Punjab and Haryana pushed towards the national capital with their 'Delhi Chalo' march in November 2020. Since the 26th of November, they have been camped at various border points such as Singhu and Tikri.
They were joined a few days later by farmers from Uttar Pradesh who settled at Ghazipur border.
Several rounds of talks have been held between farmers' representatives and those of the government, mostly unsuccessfully, to find a way out of the stalemate.
Demands of the agitating farmers
The first and foremost demand of the protesting farmers' unions is the repeal of three new agri laws.
The second demand of farmers is the guarantee of Minimum Support Price (MSP) to ensure procurement of crops at a suitable price.
The Farmers are also demanding to get a written assurance in the form of a Bill for the continuation of MSP and conventional food grain procurement system.
The Farmers are demanding MSP as recommended by the Swaminathan Commission.
The Farmers' organisations want the APMC or the Mandi System to be protected.
The third demand of farmers is the withdrawal of the Electricity (Amendment) Bill, as they feel that they won't get free electricity due to this.
The fourth demand of farmers is to end the fine and jail sentence for stubble burning.
