Latest Update: Farmers suspend 'Dilli Chalo' march for today after 9 injured in tear gas shelling; Emergency meeting called by leaders
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): A group of 101 farmers, who resumed their march towards Delhi from the Shambhu protest site on the Punjab-Haryana border on Sunday, were stopped by Haryana Police just a few meters from the Shambhu border, leading to clashes. The police used tear gas shells to disperse the protesters, injuring around nine farmers. Following the incident, the farm leaders decided to suspend the march for the day. The farm leaders, after assessing the situation, will hold an internal meeting to discuss their next steps.
"We have decided to withdraw the 'jatha' today. The agitation continues, but after one farmer was admitted to PGI in serious condition and 8-9 others were injured, we are suspending the march for now. After the meeting, we will share our future plans," stated Sarwan Singh Pandher, a prominent farm leader. The clash occurred when farmers were stopped by the police and asked to provide the necessary permits for their protest. Haryana Police demanded the farmers show their identity cards, leading to a standoff. "The police are asking for identity cards, but they should guarantee that we can proceed to Delhi. If they allow us to go to Delhi, we will provide the cards," said a protesting farmer. The police, however, claimed that the farmers were moving as a crowd rather than in the planned group of 101. They insisted that farmers would be allowed to proceed only after their identities were verified.
"We will first verify their identities and then allow them to move. The group of farmers we have identified does not match with the people advancing as a mob," the police stated. Farmers, however, denied providing a list to the police. As the farmers attempted to march towards Delhi, security was tightened at the Punjab-Haryana border. Barricades were set up to block their path, and prohibitory orders under Section 163 (formerly Section 144) were enforced, preventing the gathering of more than five people. In addition to Shambhu, the Khanauri border was also sealed with heavy security measures, and 13 contingents were deployed.
This march came after a similar attempt on Friday, when farmers tried to head towards Delhi but were stopped by tear gas shelling from security forces. Sarwan Singh Pandher, a key leader in the movement, stated that no communication had been received from the central government regarding their demand for a legal guarantee on Minimum Support Price (MSP). "The government has decided not to engage in talks with farmers and laborers. They are using force to stop us, but we will continue to move towards Delhi peacefully and in an orderly manner," Pandher said. He also accused Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan of misleading Parliament regarding their demands.
Pandher further declared that farmers would oppose the entry of BJP leaders into Punjab. "The Kisan Mazdoor Morcha and Samyukta Kisan Morcha have now completed 300 days of protest, but the central government remains firm. We have also decided to protest the entry of BJP leaders into Punjab. We have heard that Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari might visit Amritsar. We urge the farmers of Punjab to protest their entry into the state," Pandher added. He also accused the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government in Punjab of aligning with the central government, stating, "The Punjab government seems to have some sort of alliance with the central government." On Friday, a group of farmers attempting to march was stopped by multiple layers of barricades set up by Haryana security forces. Despite prohibitory orders, the farmers attempted to break through but were met with resistance as the police fired tear gas shells, forcing them to return to the protest site in Shambhu, Punjab.
