Noida: Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait was detained by Aligarh Police on Wednesday while heading to Greater Noida for the farmers' protest. Tikait, accompanied by supporters, was stopped on the Yamuna Expressway and taken to Tappal police station. "The police are preventing farmers from going to Noida by forcing them to stay at home," Tikait said,
Ha warned, "If this continues, our agitation will intensify." Tikait criticised the government's handling of farmers' land issues, stating, "Farmers' lands are being forcibly taken, and compensation is not being implemented."
The ongoing farmers' agitation in Noida and Greater Noida has taken a dramatic turn following the arrests of several protestors at Dalit Prerna Sthal on Tuesday. Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait, national spokesperson of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKS), has called for a Mahapanchayat at Zero Point on the Yamuna Expressway today (November 4) to discuss further action.
The farmers have been protesting since Monday, demanding a 10 per cent plot allocation and the implementation of the 2013 Land Acquisition Act. "The government's apathy towards farmers' rights is unacceptable. We will not rest until our demands are met," Tikait said in a video message, calling farmers from across western Uttar Pradesh to join the Mahapanchayat.
Committee Formed to Address Farmers' Issues
Responding to the protests, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has formed a five-member committee to resolve the farmers' grievances. The committee, chaired by Principal Secretary for Infrastructure and Industrial Development Anil Kumar Sagar, includes officials from Noida, Greater Noida, and Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA).
Special Secretary Infrastructure Industrial Development Piyush Verma, Assistant Chief Executive Officer (ACEO) Noida Sanjay Khatri, (ACEO) Greater Noida Saumya Srivastava, and ACEO YEIDA Kapil Singh are the officials nominated as members of this committee. A government official stated, "The committee will consult with the farmers and submit its report within a month."
However, farmer leaders criticised the move, accusing the government of stalling the issue. Naresh Tikait, BKU national president remarked, "While the government forms committee, they are simultaneously cracking down on peaceful protests. This dual approach is deeply concerning."
Police Gear Up for Mahapanchayat
In anticipation of the Mahapanchayat, the police have ramped up security across 30 entry points to Gautam Buddha Nagar. a senior police officer said, "Barricades and additional forces are in place to prevent disruptions. We aim to ensure public safety and maintain order."
Meanwhile, farmers from districts like Meerut, Bulandshahr, Muzaffarnagar, and Saharanpur are expected to arrive in large numbers, some travelling in tractor-trolleys and private vehicles.
Other farmer organisations, including the Bharatiya Kisan Sangathan, have also expressed solidarity. "Sending peaceful protestors to jail is a mockery of democracy. We will submit a memorandum to the President against this injustice," said a representative.
The farmers have warned that if their demands are not met, they may turn their protests towards Delhi, escalating pressure on authorities.
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