The farmers’ ‘Delhi Chalo’ march faced a significant setback on Sunday after eight participants sustained injuries due to tear gas shelling by Haryana Police. The protest march, which began earlier in the day from the Shambhu protest site, was halted near the Haryana border by multilayered barricades and heavy security deployment.
Injuries and Response
Sarwan Singh Pandher, a farmer leader from Punjab, reported that one injured protester required urgent medical attention and was rushed to Chandigarh’s Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER). Following the incident, Pandher announced the suspension of the march for the day, stating, “We have called back the ‘jatha’ (group of 101 farmers).” The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha are set to meet to decide the next steps.
Clashes with Authorities
As the march progressed towards Delhi, Haryana Police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the protesters near the barricades. The Ambala police stated that farmers would only be allowed to proceed to Delhi with permission from the national capital’s administration.
Farmer leader Tejveer Singh questioned the Haryana government’s rationale behind stopping the peaceful marchers. “What objection does Haryana have?” he asked, emphasizing the non-violent nature of their protest.
Farmers’ Demands
The farmers, many of whom identified as ‘marjeevras’ (those willing to die for a cause), were marching to demand a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP). Some participants expressed frustration at being stopped despite providing identification. “They are saying that our names were not on the list. We do not know which list they have,” said one farmer, describing the confusion.
Escalation of Tensions
This is not the first instance of the march encountering forceful resistance. On Friday, a similar confrontation led to injuries, prompting a temporary halt to the protest. The repeated clashes have intensified tensions between farmers and authorities, further highlighting the unresolved demands of the agricultural community.
The farmer unions have vowed to continue their struggle, with decisions on future actions expected after internal deliberations.
Sources By Agencies
