From the last eight months, the farmers, who have been protesting against the agricultural laws on various borders of Delhi, have started a protest at Jantar Mantar under the leadership of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of protesting farm unions. Today morning, farmers reached Jantar Mantar amidst tight police security. They will protest here till the monsoon session of Parliament.
The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has given permission to 200 farmers to protest every day and they will be able to perform from 11 am to 5 pm. Moreover, farmers will also have to follow covid protocols like wearing masks, maintaining social distance, use of sanitizers.
Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait has said, "as long as the Parliament is in session, we will protest by running our Kisan Parliament at Jantar Mantar itself." Meanwhile, the leaders of the Kisan Union have claimed that this time the demonstrations will be held in a peaceful manner and no farmer organization or protesters will move towards the Parliament. Apart from this, there will be no change in the route between the protest venue and Jantar Mantar.
The farmer leaders further said that during the Kisan Sansad at Jantar Mantar, the Bills related to the Agriculture Bill will be discussed daily, for which speakers will be appointed and the APMC Act will be discussed during the first two days of the demonstration.
Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait has said, "we will raise our voice here and the opposition should become our voice inside the house." On the other hand, while replying regarding the establishment of Kisan Sansad at Jantar Mantar, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said, "we have been talking to the farmers before and still we are ready to hold talks with the farmers."
To reach the protest site, all the farmers gathered at the Singhu border and reached Jantar Mantar by buses to protest under the protection of the police. The farmers' organizations have asked to run the Kisan Sansad till the end of the monsoon session i.e. August 13, while the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has given them permission to protest till August 9.