Farmers from different parts of Delhi who began their march towards Ramlila Maidan Thursday as part of a massive kisan rally planned in the city, demanding special parliament session to discuss the agrarian crisis, made the traffic freeze in some parts of the national capital.
The two-day 'Kisan Mukti March' has been organized by the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC). On Thursday morning, farmers arrived at Anand Vihar railway station where they were welcomed by members of Left-backed students' outfit AISA.
Farmers also reached Bijwasan in southwest Delhi and began their march towards Ramlila Maidan.
Due to this march, traffic on Bijwasan and Dwarka Link Road was affected with police asking commuters to avoid the stretch.
Farmer leaders said they were expecting as many as one lakh farmers at Ramlila Maidan by evening. On Friday, the farmers plan to protest near parliament, demanding the passing of bills for higher minimum support price (MSP) of grains. Farmers also want complete relief from farm loan debt. Protesting farmers allege that the Centre has "failed to address the farm crisis."
Leaders of opposition parties including Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and chief ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and West Bengal have been invited for the two-day meet, said Atul Anjan, national secretary of All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS). He said that the Narendra Modi government must come clean on what measures have been taken to give relief to farmers.
