Farmers from the Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) Tikait and BKU Lokshakti are leading the tractor march.
Traffic came to a halt as farmers organized a tractor march in Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur, Baghpat, Hapur, and Amroha. They blocked the left lane of highways by parking their tractors.
In Meerut, farmers and activists from the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Tikait) caused a traffic jam on NH 58 at Mohiuddinpur. The BKU has called for tractors to be parked on highways to show support for farmers protesting in Punjab and Haryana for their demands.
Tikait stated on Monday that the tractor march aims to ensure the Narendra Modi government hears their concerns and does not overlook the farmers.
“We have decided to organize a ‘Tractor chain’ event. Tractors will be parked along the highway leading to Delhi, particularly on the divider highway… We opted for a distinctive form of protest to ensure the government pays attention to us and doesn’t disregard the farmers,” said Tikait, who played a leading role in the 2020-21 agitation against the Centre’s now-repealed farm laws, speaking to ANI.
“We attended a meeting of the Sanyukt Morcha in Chandigarh. We’ve established a 6-member committee tasked with engaging in dialogue with farmer organizations outside the Sanyukt Morcha… If any group wishes to join the Sanyukt Morcha, they can engage in dialogue with the committee,” he further stated.
The tractor march is being led by farmers associated with the Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) Tikait and BKU Lokshakti.
A farmer leader stated during a press conference, “We (farmers) have yet to receive any communication (from the government). The door for dialogue remains open. Our protest aims to initiate a conversation. Therefore, whenever such an opportunity arises, we will participate in the meeting.”
Expect traffic disruptions at the Delhi-Noida border on Monday due to a planned tractor march by farmers heading towards the national capital, according to officials speaking to PTI. Farmers intend to protest by marching on tractors via the Yamuna Expressway, Luharli toll plaza, and Mahamaya flyover.
To manage the situation, Delhi Police has increased checks at the border with barricades, causing heavy traffic at the Chilla border from Delhi towards Noida.
Gautam Buddh Nagar Police stated that both Delhi Police and district police will conduct thorough checks and install barriers at all border points between Delhi and Noida. Traffic will be diverted accordingly.
The ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest march is organized by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, aiming to pressurize the Centre into accepting farmers’ demands, including a legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) for crops and a farm loan waiver.
Since February 13, farmers have been stationed at Shambhu and Khanauri points along the Punjab-Haryana border, following the interruption of their march by security forces.
According to farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher, as quoted by PTI, the farmers will remain at the two border points until February 29, when they will decide on the next steps.
Following clashes at Khanauri resulting in the death of a protester and injuries to around 12 police personnel, farmer leaders suspended the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march for two days last Wednesday.