Farmers break police barricades in Noida, march towards Delhi demanding MSP legislation and compensation

Farmers from Punjab, led by the Bharatiya Kisan Parishad (BKP), began a protest march towards Delhi on Monday, breaking through police barricades near Dalit Prerna Sthal (Ambedkar Park) in Noida. The march, part of their ongoing agitation, was aimed at pressing for a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Prices (MSP) and compensation for land acquired by the government. The protest began after the farmers gathered at Mahamaya flyover, where they attempted to move towards Delhi, but were met with multiple police barricades.

The police had set up the barricades to prevent the farmers from crossing into Delhi, leading to significant traffic disruptions on the Noida-Greater Noida expressway and nearby routes. Heavy traffic congestion was observed, particularly along the Delhi-Noida-Direct Flyway, as commuters faced delays due to the blocked roads. Some of the protesters were able to cross or push through the barricades, but they were stopped near Dalit Prerna Sthal, about 1 km from the Chilla border, which serves as an entry point into Delhi.

BKP leader Sukhbir Khalifa, who is leading the protest, announced that the farmers would give the government a week to address their demands. The key demands include the implementation of a legal guarantee for MSP, an increase in compensation for land acquired by the government for infrastructure projects, and the full implementation of the Land Acquisition Act of 2013. The farmers argue that the compensation for land acquisition has not been provided as promised, particularly in the context of land taken for the construction of a new airport in the region.

The police response to the protest included the deployment of additional personnel at major entry points into Delhi, such as the Chilla border and Mahamaya flyover. Police forces set up barricades and were prepared with anti-riot equipment to manage any potential escalation. Authorities continued negotiations with the farmers, and traffic movement was restored by evening after the protest temporarily shifted from the original location.

In addition to their demand for MSP and compensation, the farmers are also calling for pension schemes for agricultural laborers, debt relief for farmers, and the reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act. This Act, passed in 2013, mandates that farmers whose land is acquired for public projects be compensated at a rate four times the market value of the land, but farmers claim that this provision has not been fully implemented.

The protest is part of a larger, ongoing movement by farmers, particularly from Punjab, who have been rallying against government agricultural policies since 2020. These farmers, organized under the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM), and other groups, have been demanding a comprehensive legal framework for MSP and other agricultural reforms. Despite multiple rounds of negotiations with the government, the farmers claim that their demands have not been met.