How farmers’ ‘Delhi Chalo’ march has descended into chaos and violence

The Delhi Chalo farmers’ march has descended into violence and chaos.

The farmers, gathered under the banner of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, are demanding that the Centre give them a legal guarantee for minimum support price for crops.

They have been camping at Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13 after their march to Delhi was stopped by security forces.

Protesting farmers had earlier attempted to march towards Delhi on February 13 and February 21 but they were stopped by security forces deployed at the border points.

Besides MSP, the farmers are also demanding farm debt waiver, pension for farmers and farm labourers, no hike in electricity tariff, withdrawal of police cases (against farmers), and “justice” for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence.

Reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, and compensation to the families of farmers who died during the previous agitation in 2020-21 are also part of their demands.

But what happened?

Let’s take a closer look:

What happened?

A ‘jatha’ of 101 farmers on Friday began marching from their protest site at the Shambhu border.

As per India Today, the protest was led by farmer leaders Surjit Singh Phool, Satnam Singh Pannu, Savinder Singh Chautala, Baljinder Singh Chadiala and Manjit Singh.

They set out towards Parliament at 1 pm holding the tricolour as well as some flags belonging to farmers’ unions.

However, farmers were halted by multilayered barricading just a few metres into the march.

According to Deccan Herald, police used tear gas to get the farmers to disperse.

A police official told News18 that the farmers had not been granted permission to enter Haryana.

“The farmers don’t have permission to enter Haryana. The Ambala administration has imposed Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita."

As per News18, removed barbed wires and barricades put up by the police in an attempt to cross the Shambhu border.

Several farmers were detained at Greater Noida’s Pari Chowk, the outlet reported.

Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher told ANI several farmers were injured.

“TThey (police) will not let us go (to Delhi). Farmer leaders have got injured, we will hold a meeting to decide the future strategy…"

Pandher earlier told India Today, “We have been sitting here for the past eight months. In response to accusations that our tractors are modified, we have decided to march to Delhi on foot.”

Pandher had said that the doors for talks are open from the farmers’ side.

“We have been saying that if the government wants to talk, then show us the letter of the central government or the CM office of Haryana or Punjab,” Pandher said.

“In February, we held four rounds of talks, but since February 18, there have been no further discussions,” Pandher added, as per India Today. “The district administration has accused us of carrying weapons, but we will march peacefully.”

“We want the government to let us exercise our democratic right to protest ," Pandher said.

‘Doors always open’

The Centre has said it is open to speaking to the farmers.

Union Minister Bhagirath Choudhary was quoted as saying by the outlet, “Our doors are always open for the farmers. They should come and talk to us about their issues instead of marching towards Delhi,” Choudhary said.

NDTV quoted Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan as telling Parliament prior to the march, “I want to assure the House… all produce of farmers will be purchased at Minimum Support Price. This is the Modi government and (we will) fulfil Modiji’s guarantee," Mr Chouhan said, also taking the opportunity for a dig at the Congress, referring to his “friends from the other side”.

“…they said, on record, they cannot accept the MS Swaminathan Commission recommendations… especially on paying 50 per cent more than cost price,” he added.

Haryana police had asked farmers not to proceed citing a prohibitory order clamped under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).

The Ambala district administration has banned any unlawful assembly of five or more persons in the district.

A few farmers holding farmers’ unions’ flags pushed the iron mesh, put up by the security personnel, down the bridge constructed over the Ghaggar River.

The Haryana government on Friday suspended mobile internet and bulk SMS service in 11 villages of Ambala district till December 9.

The ban was enforced in Dangdehri, Lohgarh, Manakpur, Dadiyana, Bari Ghel, Lhars, Kalu Majra, Devi Nagar, Saddopur, Sultanpur, and Kakru villages of Ambala at Friday noon.

The ‘jatha’ began its march at 1 pm but after covering a few metres, they were forced to stop near a multi-layered barricading erected by the Haryana government.

Chanting ‘Satnam Waheguru’ and holding farmers unions’ flags and carrying essential items, the ‘jatha’ crossed the initial layer barricades easily but could not proceed further.

A few farmers pushed the iron mesh and barbed wire, and others even uprooted iron nails from the road – National Highway-44.

Security personnel, who were standing behind the cemented barricades with iron grills set up for protection, were seen asking farmers not to move ahead as they did not have permission.

One of the protesters climbed the roof of the tin where security forces had been stationed. He was forced to get down.

Water cannon vehicles have also been deployed at the Shambhu border point.

Earlier, the district authorities in Ambala ordered the closure of all government and private schools.

Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher termed the 101 farmers part of the jatha ‘marjeevras’ – someone willing to die for a cause.

He slammed the Haryana government for not allowing them to march even on foot.

Pandher had on Thursday told reporters if the government stopped them from carrying out their march, it would be a “moral victory” for the farmers.

“Their leaders at the Centre and in states have been regularly saying that if the farmers do not bring tractor-trolleys, there should be no objection. So if we go to Delhi on foot, there should be no reason to stop the farmers," he said.

Sikh Guru Teg Bahadur’s martyrdom day was also observed at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points
by the farmers.

With inputs from agencies