Farmers From Maharashtra Begin Journey To Join Farmer Protests In Delhi; Punjab Farm Agents To Shut Shop For 4 Days In Protest Against IT Raids

Thousands of farmers from Maharashtra on December 21 left for Delhi from Nashik to join the ongoing agitation by cultivators seeking the repeal of three farm laws passed by the Centre. The farmers, who started off in private vehicles, were led by leaders of the Kisan Sabha. A Kisan Sabha leader said farmers from 21 districts in Maharashtra are on their way to Delhi. He said agriculturists from Maharashtra have been demanding waiving of ''inflated'' power bills & implementation of the recommendations of the M S Swaminathan Commiittee.

Their other demands include an aid of Rs 50,000 per acre to those farmers whose crops were damaged due to unseasonal rains. Meanwhile, Commission agents known as Arhtiyas in Punjab will keep their shops shut for four days from December 22. This is in protest against income tax raids allegedly conducted to intimidate them for supporting the farmers' stir against the centre's agriculture laws, according to a body representing them.