The 2020 agitation of farmers against the now-repealed three farm laws had stretched to over a year, and they camped at the Singhu, Tikri, and Ghazipur borders. Protesters had also entered Delhi, leading to clashes with police. Some also entered the Red Fort and climbed its ramparts.Kapil, owner of a wholesale and retail shop at the Singhu border, said, “We asked our executives not to come to work on Wednesday and Thursday. There are seven helpers here. We are facing losses and shutting shop by afternoon.””My store was shut down during the previous protest too. There was also the COVID-19-induced lockdown. Now, we have this protest,” he said.Recalling the days of the 2020 agitation, Nikesh said shops, including his shopping complex, were shut even then, but farmers had them opened. “But now, we are unsure of what is going to happen,” he said.Farmers have taken out the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march to press the Centre for a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP), implementation of the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations, pensions for farmers and farm labourers, farm debt waiver, withdrawal of police cases and “justice” for victims of the Lakhimpur Kheri violence, reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act 2013, withdrawal from the World Trade Organisation, and compensation for the families of the farmers who died during the previous agitation, among others.
Source link
