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Farmers plan ‘wake-up call’ to government

-The Hindu

Farmers will march peacefully to Parliament in May, says Samyukt Kisan Morcha.

Thousands of farmers who have been protesting the three farm reform laws on the borders of Delhi will march to Parliament on foot in the first fortnight of May, Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) leaders said on Wednesday. They also plan to block the Western Peripheral Expressway surrounding Delhi for 24 hours on April 10 and 11 as a “wake up call” to the government.

Speaking at a press conference at the Singhu border, SKM leader Gurnam Singh Chaduni emphasised that steps would be taken to ensure that the march to Parliament was peaceful, without any of the confusion, ruckus or violence seen during the tractor parade on Republic Day. A committee would be formed to direct farmers in case of police action, and to prevent any violence or property damage, said Mr. Chaduni, who also heads his own faction of the Bharatiya Kisan Union in Haryana.

 “Apart from farmers, all who have been supporting us, including women, workers and unemployed youth, will also participate in the march. Everyone will come from their villages to the border in their own vehicles, and will then proceed to the Parliament on foot,” he said, adding that the exact date was yet to be decided.

Another SKM leader Santokh Singh said the government had been “sleeping” in the long time since it ended talks with farmers in January. “In order to give a wake-up call to the government, we will block the KMP [Kundli-Manali-Palwal Expressway] from 11 a.m. on April 10 till 11 a.m. on April 11,” he said.

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