Punjab farmer groups begin their journey to Delhi, police on high alert.

Key points:

1.  Around 700 tractor trolleys are heading towards Delhi’s Kundli border.
2. Five rounds of talks between both the Centre as well as the farmers’ unions have been held so far.
3. The protesters declared that by December 12, they would block highways to Delhi, and there would be a nationwide strike on December 14.
4. One PIL, filed by lawyer Om Prakash Parihar, is urging the Supreme Court to pass an order transferring the protesters to another venue.

Several farmers’ groups that did not participate in the ‘Dilli Chalo’ protest that started on November 26 began their journey to Delhi from Friday ahead of the announced program of blocking highways by farmers by December 12 with a major nationwide strike on December 14.

The demonstrators are mostly tractors coming to Delhi. In the border regions, however, vigilance has been increased to verify if farmers use public transport.

KMSC chief SS Pandher stated: 

Kishan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee chief SS Pandher said that on Friday, “Around 700 tractor trolleys are heading towards Delhi’s Kundli border.” 

In Amritsar, the members of this farmers’ community were protesting. They began mobilizing for Delhi on Friday.

The Five rounds of talks between Centre and Farmers: 

Five rounds of talks between both the Centre as well as the farmers’ unions have been held so far. In line with the issues posed by the farmers, the Centre has agreed to change the farm acts, however, the unions are demanding a full withdrawal of the laws.

While doors are open on both sides for further talks, as the Centre said it was willing to continue talks, as well as farmers, said they would consider if the Centre invited them to another meeting, the ongoing strike to siege the Capital is on.

The protesters declared that by December 12, they would block highways to Delhi, and there would be a nationwide strike on December 14. After that to escalate the strike, they will block train tracks throughout the nation.

PIL against the gathering given the Covid-19 situation:

The huge gathering induced fear for Covid-19 as Covid-19 was tested positive by two IPS officers posted at the Singhu border. Despite the Covid-19 case, public interest litigation (PIL) against the meeting has also been requested.

One PIL, filed by lawyer Om Prakash Parihar, is urging the Supreme Court to pass an order transferring the protesters to another venue. 

Deepak Kansal, a further Delhi-based lawyer, filed a complaint requesting the formulation of rules to align the right of people to protest with the right to free access as well as movement.