New Delhi: After the protesting farmers clashed with the police on the Punjab-Haryana border on Tuesday, the first day of what the protesters are calling a long haul — their Chalo Delhi march was paused for the night but protesters said they will try to cross the border again today. Many farmers were injured on Tuesday and the Punjab government sounded an alert to the hospitals located in Sangrur, Patiala, Dera Bassi, Mansa and Bathinda. Haryana police dropped tear gas shells — used drones to drop them — on the border in an attempt to stop them from crossing the border. Some policemen were also injured.
Patiala deputy commissioner said he spoke to his Amabala counterpart and asked them to not use drones to drop teargass inside Punjab’s territory.
Why are farmers protesting?
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha are holding a march to press the Centre to accept their demands, including the enactment of a law to guarantee a minimum support price (MSP) for crops.
The legal guarantee of MSP is the prime reason for the farmers’ protest. Apart from this, the farmers have also demanded the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations, as well as farm debt waiver.
Over 50,000 security personnel have been deployed at the borders in Delhi, and internet and bulk SMS services have been suspended in seven districts – Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad and Sirsa – for February 13.
Agriculture minister Arjun Munda said the government is ready to talk but the farmers are adding new demands to their list. Union minister Anurag Thakur said the government accepted many of their demands but issues like India walking out of the World Trade Organisation and cancellation of free trade agreements would require wider consultations.
Delhi traffic advisory for farmers protest
• Traffic in Delhi-NCR was heavily affected on Tuesday due to barricades at Delhi borders in anticipation of the farmers’ march.
• Increased security checks at Noida’s borders led to significant traffic disruptions on Tuesday.
• Ghazipur, Singhu, and Tikri borders experienced bumper-to-bumper traffic from 7 am, causing delays.
• Delhi airport issued an advisory for potential disruptions due to the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march on February 13.
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