• Source:JND
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In a recent development regarding the farmers' agitation at the Delhi-Noida border, farmer leader and BKU spokesperson Rakesh Tikait has been detained by the police. He was en route to the Zero Pointon the Yamuna Expressway in Greater Noida, where farmers had gathered for a ‘mahapanchayat’. Farmers from Noida, Greater Noida, and areas affected by the Yamuna Authority are arriving at the protest site in tractors and trolleys.

The meeting is being held to protest the arrest of farmers who were detained during the Delhi march.

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"I don’t know where they are taking me. If this is not resolved, we will take a tractor march to Lucknow. We will wait for the government’s announcement until this evening. They are trying to suppress farmers. We will announce our next move by evening," Tikait said while talking with reporters. 

After the meeting, BKU may announce a march to Delhi. To prevent traffic disruption, traffic police have been deployed at every roundabout and intersection in the city. In view of the mahapanchayat being organised in protest against the arrests of farmers during the Mahapadav at Dalit Prerna Sthal, tight security arrangements have been made around the event venue.

Notably, farmers have been protesting for several years over issues such as population displacement, leaseback cases, a 10 per cent developed plot, and a demand for 64.7 per cent compensation. Two days ago, farmers announced a march to Delhi. Following this, they were stopped at Dalit Prerna Sthal in Noida, where they sat in an indefinite protest.

To disperse the farmers, the police administration arrested 150 farmers on Tuesday. The farmers have demanded the immediate release of the leaders detained in jail so they can attend the panchayat.

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha has announced a march to Delhi on December 6. It is likely that farmers from here will also join the march. If this happens, it will once again pose a challenge for the police to stop them.

Sukhveer Khalifa, National President of the Bharatiya Kisan Parishad, said farmers will be provided every support if they face difficulty. 

“Full support will be provided to farmers in case they face any difficulties or problems. However, no specific strategy has been made in this regard. Complete assistance will be extended if any farmer organization seeks cooperation,” he said.

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Vice President Jagdip Dhankhar also schooled the government on the issues faced by farmers. He expressed concern that farmers were facing difficulties despite the existence of key institutions. Dhankhar said that farmers in distress, resorting to protests was not good for the overall well-being of the country.