In a continued push for their demands, a group of 101 farmers resumed their ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest march on Saturday from Shambhu border in Haryana. The protest, which marks its 307th day, is driven by farmers seeking a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) on crops, a debt waiver, pension for farmers and farm laborers, no hike in electricity tariffs, and justice for victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence.
The farmers’ march is intensifying as they press on with their efforts to head towards the national capital. Farmers’ leaders are calling for nationwide support for their movement and urging the central government to engage in dialogue. Speaking to ANI, Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) leader Sarwan Singh Pandher expressed frustration over the government’s silence on the issue. Pandher specifically pointed fingers at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, accusing them of distancing themselves from the protests.
Pandher criticized BJP MPs for making inflammatory statements, which he believes could deepen divides within communities. “The government agencies are doing everything they can to suppress this movement, trying to prove that even if all of Punjab and Haryana unite, the morcha cannot succeed,” he said. The farmers, however, remain resolute in their quest to demonstrate the power of collective citizen action in instigating changes in the country’s laws and governance.
As the march progresses, security in the region has been heightened, and local authorities have attempted to steer the protesters toward peaceful negotiations. Ambala Superintendent of Police (SP) warned the farmers that any attempt to proceed to Delhi without proper permission would not be tolerated. He stressed that the Supreme Court had called for a meeting on the issue, with the next hearing scheduled for December 18. Despite the plea for calm, the farmers have refused to halt their protest, resulting in confrontations with the police, who resorted to tear gas and water cannons in an attempt to disperse the crowd.
The protest has seen road blockages at Shambhu Border and Khanauri Border, where farmers have set up makeshift camps in harsh weather conditions. A long list of demands has fueled the unrest, with calls for policy changes on agricultural pricing, debt relief, and justice for past violence.
The Supreme Court weighed in on the matter on Friday, ordering the Centre and Punjab state authorities to provide necessary medical assistance to farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been on a fast-unto-death at the Khanauri border since November 26. Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan emphasized that Dallewal’s life was more precious than any political agitation and urged direct dialogue with him.
In a bid to curb potential unrest, the Haryana government took preventive measures hours before the protest resumed. Mobile internet and bulk SMS services were suspended in 12 villages in Ambala, including Dangdehri, Lehgarh, and Sultanpur. The suspension, in effect from December 14 to December 17, was enacted to prevent the spread of misinformation and rumors through social media platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, and Twitter, which could potentially mobilize mobs and lead to violence, vandalism, or damage to public property.
The Haryana government’s decision underscores the rising tensions in the region, as authorities seek to maintain public peace and prevent disruption of utilities or safety hazards. The move also highlights the ongoing battle between the state, farmers, and their supporters, as the government attempts to balance security concerns with the farmers’ right to protest.
The future of the protest and its impact on national discourse remains uncertain, with all eyes on the December 18 Supreme Court hearing. As farmers brace for further legal battles, the broader implications of this movement continue to unfold across India’s political and social landscape.
Sources By Agencies
