 "Farmers during a protest march to the National Capital, in Noida, Thursday, 8 February 2024. PTI")
Two years after forcing the repeal of three agricultural regulations through a year of protests at Delhi’s borders in 2021, Punjab farm unions are threatening a comeback as political parties get ready for the Lok Sabha elections.
On 13 February, a large number of farmers from Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh are anticipated to march towards the National Capital as part of the “Delhi Chalo March, which is being coordinated by some 200 farmer unions.
The Delhi police started making arrangements, announcing multiple diversions for Monday and Tuesday, and enforcing prohibitions throughout the whole North East area. To prevent any untoward incidents and uphold law and order, they have also enforced Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) along the borders with Uttar Pradesh in advance of another farmers’ agitation.
To thwart the planned march by the furious farmers, the Haryana government installed blockades of concrete and barbed wire along the state’s border with Punjab.
Here’s why the farmers are up in arms again.
Farmers’ protests in Delhi
According to news agency PTI, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha announced “Delhi Chalo” march by more than 200 farmers’ unions on 13 February to press the Centre to accept several demands.
Coordinator of KMM, Sarwan Singh Pandher, according to Indian Express, said, “Tractors in thousands will march from different parts of Punjab, reaching midway by Monday afternoon. Farmers will sleep overnight in their tractors on roadsides and will proceed towards Delhi based on the outcome of the talks.”
Impact Shorts
More ShortsSpeaking about the number of tractors from Punjab, he said, “They will be in thousands. Considering over 1,000 tractors are coming from Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, one can imagine the level of participation from Punjab.”
A large number of farmers, mostly from Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, staged a year-long protest against the three now-repealed agricultural regulations in 2020 in Singhu, Tikri, and Ghazipur, the border points to Delhi. These three laws were the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, and the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act.
Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) Lakhowal leaders stated that they will not participate in the demonstration on Tuesday; however, they will object if farmers are mistreated while marching. They are going to start the “Gramin Bharat Bandh” protest, which is scheduled for 16 February.
Their demands
According to a report by Livemint, the farmers are demanding to enact a law that ensures the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of all crops in accordance with the Dr Swaminathan Commission’s report.
Besides this, as per Indian Express, the farmers are also demanding a total debt waiver for labourers and farmers.
Reintroduce the Land Acquisition Act of 2013 on a national level, guaranteeing compensation four times the collector rate and signed consent from farmers.
Bring justice to the harmed farmers and punish those responsible for the Lakhimpur Kheri atrocity.
Ban all free trade agreements and withdraw from the World Trade Organisation.
Pay pensions to farm labourers and farmers.
Pay compensation to the families of farmers who lost their lives in the Delhi movement, and provide an employment opportunity for one family member.
Remove the Electricity Amendment Bill 2020.
Under MGNREGA, offer workers a daily income of ₹700 and 200 days of employment annually, with a connection to farming.
Enhance seed quality by enforcing severe penalties against businesses that manufacture fake seeds, fertilisers, and pesticides.
Establish a national panel to study spices, such as turmeric and chile, among others.
Protect indigenous people’s rights to land, water, and forests and prevent companies from plundering tribal territories.
Meeting with Union ministers
Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher on Saturday said the Centre has invited them for a meeting to discuss their demands on 12 February, as per PTI.
He said three Union ministers – Piyush Goyal, Arjun Munda and Nityanand Rai – will arrive in Chandigarh on Monday to hold talks with a deputation of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha.
The meeting will be held at the Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration in Sector 26 here, a day before the farmers’ proposed march.
Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta Sidhupur) president Jagjit Singh Dallewal, as per Indian Express, said, “A total of 26 persons will be attending this meeting, with 13 each from SKM (non-political) and KMM.”
The first meeting with the three Union ministers was held on 8 February in which a detailed discussion was held with the leaders of farmer organisations which planned ‘Delhi Chalo’ march to press for their demands, including a law to guarantee a minimum support price for crops, was held.
Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann, who coordinated with the farmer leaders for arranging the meeting, had also participated in it.
After the meeting, the farmer leaders had said the central ministers had assured them that they would hold a second round of the meeting soon.
The farmer leaders had said their proposed “Delhi Chalo” march on Tuesday still stood.
Section 144 imposed
In order to prevent farmer agitation, Section 144 of the CrPC, which prohibits gatherings of five or more people, has been implemented in 15 of Haryana’s 22 districts. In response to farmer associations’ “Delhi Chalo” call, the Sonepat district administration has also issued an order to petrol pumps prohibiting filling farmer tractors with more than 10 litres of diesel.
The Delhi Police has enforced Section 144 at all borders between the National Capital and Uttar Pradesh, as well as adjacent regions under the northeast district’s jurisdiction range. In addition, the Delhi Police prohibited the entry of any vehicles used for carrying protesters from Uttar Pradesh into the city, including tractors, trolleys, buses, trucks, commercial vehicles, personal vehicles, and horses.
Amidst the planned farmers’ protest, the Chandigarh administration also enforced Section 144 for 60 days within the city.
Section 144 was also enforced in Uttar Pradesh along the borders of Ghazipur, Tikri, and Singhu to prevent any tragic events and uphold law and order.
According to the order, farmers would probably block the Delhi border till their demands are fulfilled.
Makeshift jails, sealed borders, internet services suspension
The Punjab-Haryana borders have been heavily secured in anticipation of the farmers’ “Delhi Chalo” march. The police have been installing jersey barricades and prohibitory orders as a precaution.
According to News18, the Haryana and Delhi police have erected concrete barricades at the Tikri border in Jhajjar’s Bahadurgarh and Singhu in Sonepat on Sunday. The Delhi police also stationed water cannons and sizable cement canisters near the Sonepat boundary.
Along the interstate border, barbed wire, road spikes, iron nails, and thousands of police officers have been stationed in addition to the concrete barriers.
Furthermore, before the march, the Haryana government transformed two sizable stadiums into makeshift jails.
In case the farmers’ march proceeds, imprisoned farmers will be housed in makeshift jails at Chaudhary Dalbir Singh Indoor Stadium in Sirsa and Guru Gobind Singh Stadium in Dabwali, according to NDTV, which cited its sources.
In addition to implementing Section 144, the Haryana government has also suspended mobile internet services and bulk SMS in seven districts.
An official order states that from 6 am on 11 February to 23:59 on 13 February, mobile internet services will be suspended in the districts of Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad, and Sirsa.
The decision was made out of concerns about a potential disturbance of peace brought on by the planned march.
Due to expected interruptions, the Haryana Police has also released a traffic advisory urging commuters to minimise their use of major roadways on Tuesday. Commuters travelling between Chandigarh and Delhi have also been advised to choose alternate routes to reduce the possibility of traffic congestion.
An advisory was released by the Delhi Traffic Police on Sunday in advance of the farmers’ “Delhi Chalo” march. The police have instructed car owners to follow the advisory to remain aware of any traffic restrictions or diversions.
With inputs from agencies