Tuesday marked the start of the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march, which saw thousands of farmers engaging in a chaotic altercation with police at the Punjab-Haryana border. A brief “ceasefire” was declared at the end of the day, but the farmers have promised to keep marching towards the nation’s capital.
Undeterred by gunfire from the Punjab-Haryana border, protesting farmers continued their march towards Delhi on Wednesday. They had earlier declared a “ceasefire” after a turbulent day filled with attacks from the police, water cannons, and tear gas.
Despite a massive security deployment, concrete barricading, and dug-up roads to obstruct their movement, farmers continued their ‘Delhi Chalo’ march, with hundreds of tractor trolleys seen lined up near Shambhu on the Punjab-Haryana border. On Wednesday, police used tear gas on the demonstrators once more in an attempt to stop them from getting close to the barricades.
Motorways became crawlways in Delhi and its satellite towns for the second day in a row as severe police barricading and traffic restrictions rendered all vehicle movement impossible. Police are expected to increase border security procedures on Wednesday as farmers approach the capital, making travel even more challenging for commuters.
Reverberations of the 2020–21 protests continued when thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab, tried to break through barriers on their way to Delhi and were met with a large police presence. Determined to stop them from entering the state, the Haryana Police used a variety of tactics, such as water cannons, concrete barriers, and drones fitted with tear gas canisters.
After unsuccessful talks with the Centre, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha are leading the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march. Among their demands are loan forgiveness and a law on MSP for crops.
The following are the main points of the farmers’ protest:
- Punjabi farmers faced fierce opposition from the Haryana Police at two important border crossings. To stop the demonstrators from moving closer to Delhi, the police employed water cannons, tear gas, and other tactics.
- Both the demonstrators and the police personnel were hurt in the altercations. Officials stated that 24 police officers were injured, but farmer leaders reported that more than 60 protesters were hurt.
- To stop the farmers, the authorities used tire deflators, water cannons, cement barriers, sandbags, and drones equipped with tear gas canisters. The situation worsened when demonstrators started throwing stones and attempting to knock down barricades, in defiance of the police’s pleas.
- The farmers arrived with six months’ supply of rations and diesel, indicating that they were prepared for a protracted battle and that they would not give up easily.
- The Punjab administration has raised the number of ambulances and placed hospitals close to the Haryana border on alert in response to the fighting. Additionally, they have asked the Haryana government to desist from employing disproportionate force against the demonstrators.
- Due to the ongoing farmers’ protest, Delhi saw traffic havoc on Tuesday. Several levels of barricades and strict border checks caused blocked routes and severe congestion along the border crossings with Ghazipur, Singhu, and Chilla. On Wednesday, the scenario is predicted to remain unchanged, with only two lanes of traffic allowed on the DND flyway, especially in North and East Delhi. According to a Delhi Traffic Police notice, the borders between Tikri and Singhu are probably going to stay blocked today.
- In Delhi, preparations are underway for the farmer-led ‘Delhi Chalo’ March. The barbed wire and barricades that were placed at Delhi’s borders are being strengthened in response to footage of demonstrators attempting to raise cement blocks to breach the security barrier at the Punjab-Haryana border.
- In response to the farmers’ protest, the Haryana government decided to prolong the 48-hour ban on mobile internet services, bulk SMS, and other dongle services in seven districts till midnight on February 15. Before this, mobile services in Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad, and Sirsa were suspended from February 11 am to February 1 pm.
- Union Minister Arjun Munda asked farmers’ unions to uphold an atmosphere that is favorable to productive communication while reiterating the government’s willingness to hold talks with them.
“As I’ve previously stated, the government is prepared to have fruitful discussions with farmers. After taking everything into account, we ought to have a conversation. Second, the farmers need to realize that the protest shouldn’t bother anyone or interfere with their daily lives,” Munda told reporters on Wednesday.
Team Profile
- News Writer
- Khusbu Jena, equipped with a sturdy educational background in Media Studies, embarks on a journey to traverse the expansive dimensions of media, aiming to intertwine it with international affairs. Their academic pursuits have endowed them with a deep comprehension of the dynamic media landscape, spanning from traditional journalism to digital platforms, as well as encompassing area studies and geopolitics. Demonstrating an inherent curiosity about diverse workspaces, Khusbu exudes an eagerness for continuous learning and exploration.
Latest entries
