Jind:

The stage at a massive gathering for a farmers’ “Mahapanchayat” or meeting in Haryana’s Jind collapsed this afternoon. Rakesh Tikait, leader of Bharatiya Kisan Union (Arajnaitik) and other farmer leaders, who were standing on the stage, were taken down when the stage went crashing down.

A video of the stage collapse showed Mr Tikait and others being taken down as the stage crashed just as he was about to address the gathering. People who were sitting on the ground, listening to the people on the stage, jumped up in shock.

#WATCH | The stage on which Bharatiya Kisan Union (Arajnaitik) leader Rakesh Tikait & other farmer leaders were standing, collapses in Jind, Haryana.

A ‘Mahapanchayat’ is underway in Jind. pic.twitter.com/rBwbfo0Mm1

— ANI (@ANI) February 3, 2021

The “mahapanchayat” has been organised by the Haryana khap, or self-appointed village court, where Rakesh Tikait and several other leaders of various farmer unions were address the gathering.

Several such gatherings have been organised in parts of Uttar Pradesh as well in the last few days.

The farmers are demanding that the government cancel three new laws that they believe will hurt their income by taking away guaranteed minimum prices and by leaving them vulnerable to corporates. The government says the laws bring long overdue reforms in the agriculture sector, and will allow farmers to sell their produce anywhere in the country for competitive prices.