Thousands of farmers march to Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh

Farmers march towards a ground during a Mahapanchayat in Muzaffarnagar on Sunday. Pic/AFP

Thousands of farmers from Uttar Pradesh and neighbouring states on Sunday gathered at Muzaffarnagar for a ‘Kisan mahapanchayat' aimed at "saving the country", just months ahead of the crucial UP assembly polls.

The event was organised by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) at the Government Inter College ground in Muzaffarnagar in protest against the Centre's controversial farm laws.

"These meetings will be held across the country. We have to stop the country from getting sold. Farmers should be saved, the country should be saved; business, employees and youth should be saved--this is the aim of the rally," Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) national spokesperson Rakesh Tikait said.

BKU media in-charge Dharmendra Malik said farmers belonging to 300 organisations spread across different states like Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Maharashtra, Karnataka, among others, have gathered for the event. He said over 5,000 ‘langars' (food stalls), including some mobile stalls, have been set up for the participants.

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar stated that 25 companies of PSC and 20 officers under the Meerut zone were deployed in view of the mahapanchayat.

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