Protesting farmers are flying kites at Shambhu border. Here's why

On the day of Basant Panchami, scores of farmers were seen flying kites at the Shambhu border, where the protesters were being prevented from moving towards the national capital for the 'Dilli Chalo' march.

However, the kites were not being flown to mark the occasion, but rather to block the view of the drones, which were being used by the authorities to drop tear gas canisters on them.

One of the farmers told the Indian Express newspaper that they hope to make a maze of kite string in the sky to counter the drones.

If we make a maze of ‘dor’ in the sky, the drone would not be able to come to this side," a protester was quoted as saying.

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha are spearheading the 'Delhi Chalo' agitation to put pressure on the Centre for their demands, including a law on minimum support price for crops and loan waivers.

Besides a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP), the farmers are also demanding the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations, pensions for farmers and farm labourers, farm debt waiver, withdrawal of police cases and "justice" for victims of the Lakhimpur Kheri violence, reinstate the Land Acquisition Act 2013, withdraw from the World Trade Organisation, and compensation for families of the farmers who died during the previous agitation, among others.

Meanwhile, the RSS-affiliated Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS) on Wednesday said it does not support the farmers' 'Delhi Chalo' march as it was "political" and does not seem to be serving the farmers' interest.

In a statement, BKS general secretary Mohini Mohan Mishra said farmers should get the remunerative price for their produce based on the cost but "political manoeuvres" in the name of farmers with an eye on the elections should be stopped.

He said that when movements are organised in the name of farmers with "political intentions" during elections, violence, chaotic environment and loss of national property follow.

(With PTI inputs)

Also read | Tear gas fired as farmers gather to resume 'Delhi Chalo' protest at Shambhu border