Numerous farmers engaged in protest were deatained while resuming their “Dilli Chalo” march towards Delhi on Wednesday, causing further delay to their plan of converging on the capital to demand better crop prices, according to statements from protest leaders cited by Reuters.
The “Delhi Chalo” march commenced on February 13, with thousands of farmers marching towards Delhi to advocate for a law establishing a Minimum Support Price (MSP) for their produce, alongside other concessions such as loan waivers. However, following reports of violence and clashes between farmers and Delhi police at the borders on February 24, the march was temporarily halted.
The farmers had intended to resume their protest on Wednesday, March 6, encouraging farmers across India to travel to Delhi via bus and train since their tractors were obstructed. Farmer leader Tejveer Singh stated, “…on March 6, farmers from all over India will march peacefully towards Jantar Mantar in Delhi. Farmers from Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Bihar have made all preparations to move to Delhi for the march… Farmers also announced plans to hold a ‘Rail Roko’ protest across the country from 12 pm to 4 pm on March 10. Many farmers have been protesting at Khanauri and Shambhu borders for nearly 23 days,” farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher informed ANI.
Today’s Developments
– Farmers Prevented from Advancing: According to the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political), one of the leading protest groups, farmers attempting to march towards Delhi were halted by police in various states.
– Detentions Reported: Farmer leaders claimed that 50 farmers from a district in Rajasthan were detained on Tuesday night, while others traveling to Delhi by train from the same state were held at a police station on Wednesday. However, Rajasthan police refuted these claims, asserting that no farmers had been detained in connection with the agitation.
– Anticipated Increase in Farmer Numbers: Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher mentioned that although an announcement was made earlier regarding farmers from other states commencing their march towards Delhi on Wednesday, those coming from distant places would not reach Delhi on the same day. It is anticipated that farmers from other central and northern states will arrive in Delhi on Thursday, with farmer groups from southern and western India also preparing to join the protests.
– Economic Impact on Punjab: Pandher highlighted the economic ramifications of the prolonged border closures between Punjab and Haryana, attributing responsibility to the central government for the disruption. He questioned why ordinary citizens were being subjected to difficulties.
Previous Incidents
– Fatal Clash at Khanauri: The clash at Khanauri on the Punjab-Haryana border on February 21 resulted in the death of Shubhkaran Singh and injuries to 12 security personnel. The incident occurred as some protesting farmers attempted to breach police barricades erected to impede their “Delhi Chalo” march. The Punjab Police registered a murder case seven days after Shubhkaran Singh’s death.
– Ongoing Stalemate: Despite several rounds of talks, the deadlock between farmers and the government persists. The protesting farmers rejected an offer from a panel of three Union ministers during the last round of talks on February 18, which proposed the purchase of five crops at MSP for five years through central agencies.
– Protest Leadership and Objectives: The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha are leading the ‘Delhi Chalo’ agitation, aiming to compel the Centre to accede to their demands, which include legislation on MSP for crops and the waiver of farm loans. Protesters from Punjab participating in the march have been stationed at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points of the state’s boundary with Haryana.
