Delhi is for all, can't stop farmers from entering national capital: Arvind Kejriwal

The farmers tried to break barricades and enter New Delhi when police used tear gas and water cannons on the protesters.

Following the incident, Kejriwal took to Twitter to say in Hindi, "दिल्ली सबकी है। किसानों को दिल्ली में आने से नहीं रोका जा सकता। किसानों की माँगे जायज़ हैं। उनकी माँगें मानी जायें। (Delhi is for all. Can't stop farmers from entering Delhi. The farmers' demands are justifiable. Their demands must be fulfilled."

Nearly 50,000 farmers, led by Bhartiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait, are marching from Haridwar to New Delhi with the demands which include loans waivers, clearance of pending sugarcane payments and raising the minimum support prices.

Regarding the rally, Tikait told Hindustan Times, "We will continue our march till our demands are met. The talks (with the ministers) should go on. Whenever we feel that our work is done, we will stop our protest. If farmers are given an assurance, they will be happy. We have already given four years to the government to meet our demands. It is time that our demands are met."

The farmers are also demanding free electricity for running tubewells, Hindustan Times reported.

Anticipating law and order problems which might take place, Delhi police have imposed prohibitory orders in the areas which border Uttar Pradesh.

Massive traffic jams are expected to occur in east Delhi as well as in the Noida and Ghaziabad areas.

Deputy Commissioner of police, Pankaj Singh, told the daily, "A large number of protesters are likely to reach Delhi from bordering areas of east district. This may create law and order situation and may create chaos and endanger human life and property in the area."

Image: Arvind Kejriwal Facebook