What led farmers to pause protest at Delhi-Noida border

Massive traffic was seen at the Delhi-Noida border on Monday morning as farmers began their ‘Delhi chalo’ protest march. The farmers, belonging to the Bhartiya Kisan Parishad (BKP) and other allied groups, including the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) and Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), were demanding adequate compensation for their lands acquired by the government.
Barricades were placed on the Yamuna Expressway causing inconvenience to commuters crossing the Delhi-Noida border. To beat the traffic, many commuters took the metro instead of their personal vehicles to get to work.
However, authorities were able to get to an understanding with farmers by afternoon, following which barricades were removed and movement of traffic resumed.
The farmers decided to pause their protest following assurances from senior Uttar Pradesh government officials, who sought a week’s time to resolve the farmers’ issues.
Farmers are demanding an allocation of 10 per cent plots and 64.7 per cent increased compensation under the old acquisition law, which is four times the market rate of compensation, and 20 per cent plots on the land acquired after January 1, 2014.
The demands also include that children of landless farmers be given the benefit of employment and rehabilitation, government orders on the issues passed by the High Power Committee and proper settlement of populated areas.
At the Dalit Prerna Sthal, officials of the Noida Authority and civil administration spoke with the protesting farmers and gave a written assurance that within one week, a meeting between farmer leaders and the Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary would be convened.
Upon receiving a written assurance from the officials, protesting farmers agreed to pause their march and sit at the Dalit Prerna Sthal until the meeting between farmer leaders and Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary is conducted.
The farmers’ organisations have said that they would resume their ‘Delhi Chalo’ march again if their issues are not resolved in a week.
According to sources, the meeting between the farmer leaders and the Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary will be conducted within one week and if it achieves the desired objectives, the protest will be called off. However, if the meeting fails to meet its objective, the farmers will resume their march.
Speaking after the meeting with Noida officials, Bharatiya Kisan Parishad leader Sukhbir Khalifa said, “We have come with a tough spirit and a lot of passion and dedication, for the rights of our ‘annadata’ (farmer). Farmers are being exploited, but it will not happen anymore. We will ensure they are given 10 per cent plots… We have been assured that our problems will be resolved after holding Secretary-level talks. Till then, we will camp at Dalit Prerna Sthal. We will not move forward, but we will also not go back…”