BKU cancels plan to gherao Akhilesh Yadav

"The proposed gherao Yadav has been cancelled, but the Union will continue its occupation of the plaza until our demands were met," BKU spokesperson Rajesh Tikait said.

The gherao was called off following a meeting between BKU leaders and district authorities, sources said.

In favour of its demand to exempt farmers from the current rate of toll tax, the BKU has occupied the toll plaza for the last five days.

As BKU activists continue to occupy the Delhi-Haridwar toll, vehicles had a free run and crossed the plaza without paying the toll tax.

"The plaza has been converted into BKU office where farmers have been asked to stage-in protests to seek the solution of their problems. The union has also demanded the local administration to appoint a magistrate on the plaza," he said.

The BKU has called a mahapanchayat on November 7 to draft the strategy of the protest, which, Tikait said, would go beyond Meerut if farmers are not exempted from the current rate of toll tax.

BJP leader and former Union Minister Satpal Malik and party's state president Laxmikant Vajpayee visited the plaza to extend support to the agitating farmers.