Farmers’ Protest: 60 injured in tear gas shelling, security beefed up to halt march into Delhi

New Delhi: Authorities have intensified security arrangements to stop a farmers’ ‘Delhi Chalo’ march. Nearly after two years, farmers from Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh with over 200 unions heading, are marching towards Delhi after inconclusive talks with Union ministers on Monday.

Farmer leaders have said that there is still lack of clarity on legal guarantees for the minimum support price (MSP). This time, the protest has been called by the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha and Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, led by farmer union leaders Jagjeet Singh Dallewal and Sarwan Singh Pandher. The protesting farmers have put forth 12 demands before the central government which includes the implementation of the Swaminathan report and law for MSP.

Police use tear gas to disperse farmers gathered at the Punjab-Haryana Shambhu border during their ‘Delhi Chalo’ march, in Patiala district, on Tuesday. Even as the police are not thwarting any movement of farmers from the state towards Delhi, a high alert has been sounded in Punjab with almost 70% of the total state police force told to remain in the field.

The Haryana government has extended ban on mobile internet and bulk SMS services in seven districts by two days till February 15 in view of the farmers’ ‘Delhi Chalo’ agitation. These districts are Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad and Sirsa, the government said in an order.

Farmer leaders blamed the Centre for the “attack” on protesters marching towards Delhi and claimed that 60 of them were injured as police used tear gas shells at Punjab-Haryana border points.

The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) on Tuesday requested Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud to take action against “erring farmers” for trying to enter Delhi forcibly in a bid to create “nuisance” and disturb the daily life of citizens. The Punjab and Haryana High court on Tuesday issued notices to the Centre and the states of Haryana and Punjab, on two separate petitions linked to the march. One of the petitioners sought directions from the court to stay all “obstructive” actions by the two state governments and the Centre. The other pleaded for directions to ensure no highway is blocked by the protesters.

In an interview with PTI, Union Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda, said a law guaranteeing MSP cannot be brought in a hurry without consulting all stakeholders. He urged farmer groups to have a structured discussion with the government on the issue.