India: Thousands protest in New Delhi Nov. 29, further protests Nov. 30 /update 2

Event

Thousands of disgruntled farmers are converging in the capital New Delhi as of Thursday, November 29, as part of a two-day protest march. Farmers from around the country are arriving at three main train stations: Anand Vihar, Hazrat Nizamuddin, and Sabzi Mandi; they are then expected to gather from 15:00 (local time) at Ram Leela Ground. The next day, protesters will march from there to Parliament Street, where a rally will be held. Around 15,000 people are expected to take part in the gatherings, which will cause severe traffic disruptions.

Although no unrest has been reported thus far, violence cannot be ruled out. Clashes erupted between protesters and police on October 2, when thousands of farmers attempted to reach the capital. Some 1000 police officers have been deployed in New Delhi to secure the protests.

Context

The protest has been called by the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) farmers movement over government policies perceived as being anti-farmer. The AIKSCC has a 12-point agenda of grievances and represents 207 farmer and agricultural organizations. This is the fourth such protest to take place this year.

Advice

Individuals in and around New Delhi are advised to monitor the situation, anticipate significant transportation disruptions, avoid public gatherings, and adhere to instructions issued by local authorities.