Farmer Unions’ to Meet Today to Discuss Relocating Protest Location

After Delhi Police dismantled barriers from the Ghazipur and Tikri borders, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, an umbrella group of 40 farmers' unions, would have an internal meeting today to discuss the future course of action. 

During the meeting, SKM will determine whether or not to march into Delhi and whether or not to relocate the protest site. 

Commuters were relieved when the Delhi Police began removing barriers from the Ghazipur and Tikri borders on October 30, after farmers had been sitting at the protest site for over a year, expressing apprehension that they also might be removed. 

Farmers will intensify protests commencing from 27 Nov. if their demands are not met 

Rakesh Tikait, leader of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), has already threatened that if the farmers' demands are not satisfied by November 26th, they would pitch tents across the borders of Delhi the next day and intensify their agitation. 

Tikait said on Twitter, "The farmers would arrive at the border locations on tractors and trolleys and reinforce the venues after pitching their tents." 

Tikait's statement comes after the Supreme Court recently ruled that, while farmers have the right to protest, they cannot "block" roads and cause annoyance to the public.

Demonstrations can last for 5 years: Rakesh Tikait 

Rakesh Tikait has also stated that if governments can last for 5 years, then so can protests.
Earlier, the BKU leader threatened the Centre that if farmers are forcibly evicted from the protest site, the government offices will be turned into "grain markets."

"If farmers are unable to sell their goods at a decent price at mandis, what better place to do so than the government offices?" Tikait stated and demanded that the Centre engage in conversation with them and remove the agriculture legislation.

The Union government and the farmers who were protesting met 11 times to try to resolve the matter, but the meetings were unsuccessful.