Ambala (Haryana) [India]: Haryana police detained several protesting farmers as they marched towards Delhi on Tuesday.
The protesting farmers were seen attempting to break the multi-layered barricades using their tractors and hand weapons.
Scenes of chaos filled the Shambhu border as the police tried to stop the protestors from entering the national capital.
Visuals from the border showed farmers running towards nearby farmland on the sides of the road as police fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse the protestors.
Concrete slabs, iron nails, barricades, barbed wires, police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed by the police at several parts of the border.
Speaking on the protest, Sibash Kabiraj, IG, Ambala Range said, “We welcome the farmers coming from Punjab but if they travel on tractors it will create problems for the people.”
“They can travel on buses, trains or foot. If they come on tractors, we will not allow them. Section 144 has also been imposed,” he added.14:37 13-02-2024
Union Minister Arjun Munda, in response to the farmers’ ‘Delhi Chalo’ march, emphasized the necessity of time and deliberation to address the concerns raised by the farming community.
“We care about the interests of the farmers. It is not our concern if someone is doing politics over this issue. We have always been ready for talks and discussions and we are ready to do everything possible to find a solution to this issue.”
Arjun Munda is among the team of ministers holding talks with the farmer leaders that also includes Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal, MoS Nityanand Rai and Punjab Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal.
The farmers have put forth 12 demands before the central government for which they’re marching to Delhi.
The protest this time has been called by Sanyukt Kisan Morcha and Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee led by farmer union leaders Jagjeet Singh Dallewal and Sarwan Singh Pandher.
According to the protesting farmers, the centre promised them better crop prices after which they ended the 2021 protest.
They are demanding to enact a law guaranteeing a minimum support price (MSP) for all crops, as recommended by the Swaminathan Commission report.
They are also demanding a complete debt waiver and a scheme to provide pensions to farmers and farm labourers.
The farmers have also urged to scrap the Electricity Amendment Bill 2020 and are demanding to reintroduce the Land Acquisition Act of 2013, ensuring consent from farmers and compensation at 4 times the collector rate.
Further, they are demanding to punish those involved in the Lakhimpur Kheri killings.
An appeal to provide 200 days of employment per year and a daily wage of Rs 700 under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 (MGNREGA) linking it with farming has also been made by the farmers.
Also, a demand to provide compensation to the families of farmers who died during the protests in 2021 and a job for any family member has been put in place.
