Hindustan Times ST (Jaipur)

Housands gather for isan mahapancha­yat

- Ncies

usands of farmers from Pradesh and neighbouri­ng s on Sunday gathered at affarnagar for a ‘Kisan apanchayat’ to “saving the try”, just months ahead of rucial UP assembly polls. e event was organised by Samyukt Kisan Morcha ) at the Government Inter ge ground in Muzaffarna­n protest against the Cencontrov­ersial farm laws. hese meetings will be held ss the country. We have to the country from getting Farmers should be saved, country should be saved; ness, employees and youth ld be saved--this is the aim e rally,” Bharatiya Kisan n (BKU) national spokeson Rakesh Tikait said. Sevother leaders who have been rheading the stir against the

laws including Medha Patand Yogendra Yadav were on the dais.

KU media in-charge Dhardra Malik said farmers nging to 300 organisati­ons ad across different states Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, ab, Maharashtr­a, Karnaamong others, have gathfor the event. e said over 5,000 ‘langars’ d stalls), including some ile stalls, have been set up for the participan­ts.

The farmers, including women carrying flags of different organisati­ons and wearing different coloured caps, were seen arriving at the venue in buses, cars and tractors.

City magistrate Abhishek Singh rejected the request, saying it cannot be allowed due to security reasons.

The district authoritie­s have posted police personnel at the residences of Union minister Sanjiv Balyan and BJP MLA Umesh Malik here, as a precaution­ary measure.

The SKM on Saturday claimed that thousands of farmers from 15 states had reached Muzaffarna­gar to participat­e in the mahapancha­yat.

The umbrella body of 40 farmer unions spearheadi­ng the farmers’ agitation against the Centre’s three farm laws said the event would prove that the agitation had the support of “all castes, religions, states, classes, small traders and other sections of society”.

“The mahapancha­yat of September 5 will make the Yogimodi government­s realise the power of farmers, farm labourers and supporters of the farm movement. The Muzaffarna­gar mahapancha­yat will be the biggest ever in the last nine months,” the SKM had said in a statement.

It also said that 100 medical camps had been set up for the farmers attending the mahapancha­yat.

Bharatiya Janata Party MP Varun Gandhi on Sunday called the protesting farmers “our own flesh and blood” and suggested that the government should re-engage with them in reaching common ground.

Several rounds of discussion­s between the protesting farmers and the government have failed to break the deadlock.

The Congress also voiced support for the farmer’s agitation, with party leader Rahul Gandhi saying the call of truth is echoing and an “unjust government” will have to listen.

“The call of truth is echoing. You have to listen, unjust government!” Rahul Gandhi tweeted in Hindi.

Priyanka Gandhi also voiced support for the mahapancha­yat, saying, “Farmers are the voice of this country. Farmers are the pride of the country. Arrogance of any power cannot withstand the roar of the farmers.” The whole country is with the farm

 ?? REUTERS ?? Farmers march towards Muzaffarna­gar on Sunday.
REUTERS Farmers march towards Muzaffarna­gar on Sunday.
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