Farmers protesting the WTO with tractor marches in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh demand MSP

Beyond Punjab, farmers’ support for the current agitation was shown today as farmers from Uttar Pradesh and Haryana joined the tractor march at the Samyukt Kisan Morcha’s (SKM) invitation.

Additionally, the protesting farmers set fire to WTO effigies, claiming that this organization was impeding the Indian government’s ability to purchase agricultural products on MSP above a certain threshold.

The SKM, an umbrella organization made up of over 40 farmer organizations, is supporting Punjabi farmers for the first time. The farmers have been protesting since February 13 under the name SKM (Non-Political).

Farmers were told to park their tractors along roads as a show of support for farmers demonstrating in Punjab and Haryana, as part of the statewide tractor march that was called for by the SKM and was scheduled to take place in almost 400 districts throughout the nation from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

“Tractors have come out on the roads, and farmers may also pitch tents on highway, if required,” BKU (Tikait) head Rakesh Tikait said. Our requests should be honored by the government. He did, however, clarify that there was currently no intention to move toward Delhi.

Farmers organized tractor marches in Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur, Baghpat, Hapur, and Amroha, obstructing the left lanes of roads by parking their tractors, causing severe traffic delays across western Uttar Pradesh.

The Haryana government and the Centre came under flak from the SKM for attacking farmers at the Khanauri border and firing fire.

At important access and departure points into and out of Delhi and Noida, the police had issued prohibitory orders and stationed extra officers.

The appeal was well received in Haryana, where protests were organized in more than 50 sites. BKU (Rajewal), BKU (Qadian), and BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) members demonstrated throughout Punjab at a number of different places. WTO initiatives were destroyed along the boundaries of Shambhu and Khanauri.