Farmers from Uttar Pradesh and neighbouring states came in thousands to attend ‘Kisan mahapanchayat’ in Muzaffarnagar. This comes at a time when UP assembly polls are scheduled in few months. Thousands of farmers came to attend the gathering. To protest against the Centre’s controversial farm laws, Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) organised the event at Government Inter College ground in Muzaffarnagar. Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) national spokesperson Rakesh Tikait said that the gatherings will be organised across the country. He said that this was intended to save the country, as farmers, businesses, employees and youth should be saved.
Medha Patkar and Yogendra Yadav were present during the event. It is reported that farmers belonging to 300 organisations spread across different states like Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Maharashtra, Karnataka, among others, had gathered for the event. Over 5,000 ‘langars’ (food stalls), mobile stalls had been set up. Farmers, including women farmers, were seen wearing caps and holding flags as they arrived at the venue in buses, cars and tractors.
The SKM said that the mahapanchayat will make Yogi-Modi governments understand the power of farmers, farm labourers and supporters of the farm movement.
They added that Muzaffarnagar mahapanchayat will be the biggest ever in the last nine months.
Around 100 medical camps had been set up for the farmers attending the mahapanchayat. The farmers have been protesting against Centre’s three laws and were demanding its repeal.
The farmers are afraid of the Centre doing away with the MSP system, which will lead to exploitation by big corporations.