In a resolute stand against the failure of dialogues with the Central Government regarding minimum support price or MSP guarantees, thousands of farmers are set to restart the ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest march from the Punjab-Haryana border. A massive number of 14,000 farmers gathered at Shambhu along with 1,200 tractor trolleys, 300 cars, and 10 mini-buses. The Home Ministry, additionally, estimated presence of 4,500 protesters with 500 tractors at the Dhabi-Gujran border point.
Authorities, bracing for the impending march, have heightened security measures, with Haryana Police urging their Punjab counterparts to intervene and dismantle barricades erected by protesters. Meanwhile, Delhi Police have ramped up preparations, conducting drills to fortify entry points as the farmers gear up to advance towards the national capital, where they have been halted since February 13.
Kisan Mazdoor Morcha leader Sarwan Singh Pandher reiterated the commitment to peaceful protest, calling upon the government to facilitate their unhindered passage to Delhi. Despite previous rounds of negotiations, Pandher insisted the impasse lies with the Central Government’s decision-making.
The protest’s resurgence comes amidst escalating tensions, with concerns raised over the infiltration of miscreants masquerading as farmers, exacerbating the law-and-order situation. The Home Affairs Ministry, in a letter to the Punjab Government, expressed apprehension over the deployment of heavy machinery, such as modified bulldozers, potentially endangering security forces and compromising the stability of the region.
As the spectre of traffic congestion looms over Delhi’s border points, with Tikri and Singhu fortified with multiple layers of barricades, farmer leaders continue to press for legislative action on MSP guarantees. Sarwan Singh Pandher urged for a special parliamentary session dedicated to enacting MSP legislation.
Despite legal injunctions, including directives from the Punjab and Haryana High Court, prohibiting large gatherings and restricting tractor-trolley movement on highways, the farmers remain undeterred. Rejecting the government’s offer to procure select crops at MSP for five years, the farmers are determined to press on towards Delhi, adamant in their pursuit of demands.
