Day 1 of 'Delhi Chalo': Face-off between farmers, Haryana cops; SKM writes to PM against using 'repressive measures'

Over 200 farm unions are spearheading the 'Delhi Chalo' protest march to put pressure on the Union government for their demands, including a law on MSP for crops and loan waivers.

The developments so far:

• Punjab farmers begin marching towards Delhi, seeking a law on Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops

• Chaos ensues across the Punjab-Haryana border as 'Delhi Chalo' farmers try to break through roadblocks

• Cops use tear gas, water cannons, and rubber bullets to curtail the march; a few farmers were detained at the Ambala-Shambu border

• Punjab and Haryana HC backs protestors have right to move and warns against use of force

• MSP law can't be brought in a hurry, says Agriculture minister

• Congress promises law on MSP if INDIA bloc comes to power

• Samyukt Kisan Morcha writes to PM Modi, condemning the government's action against 'Dilli Chalo' protestors

Farmers march to Delhi demanding MSP for crops

Farmers from Punjab on Tuesday morning commenced their 'Delhi Chalo' march to press for their demands after a meeting with two Union ministers over their demands, including a legal guarantee to MSP for crops, remained inconclusive.

The farmers are marching to Delhi via the Ambala-Shambhu, Khanauri-Jind, and Dabwali borders. Many farmers, along with their tractor trolleys, began the march around 10 am from Fatehgarh Sahib and are moving towards Delhi via the Shambhu border.

Delhi govt rejects Centre's proposal to convert Bawana stadium into makeshift jail

The Delhi government has rejected the Centre's proposal to convert Bawana Stadium into a makeshift jail in view of the farmers' march to the national capital on Tuesday, officials said.

Delhi Home Minister Kailash Gahlot wrote to Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar, denying permission and expressing solidarity with the farmers' march, they added.

"The demands of the farmers are genuine. Secondly, it is the constitutional right of every citizen to make a peaceful protest. It is therefore, incorrect to arrest the farmers"

Gahlot's letter to Kumar read

"The Central Government, infact, should invite them over for talks and try to find a solution of their genuine problems. Farmers of the country are our 'annadata' and treating them in this way by arresting them would be like rubbing salt into their wounds. We cannot be a party to this decision of the central government," Gahlot added.

'Dictatorial Modi government': Congress hits out at Centre

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday accused the Modi government of crushing the voice of farmers after failing to fulfil the promises made to them over the past 10 years.

Kharge's attack against the government came on a day when thousands of farmers called for a Delhi Chalo protest and the capital became a virtual fortress with authorities stopping them from entering the city.

"Barbed wire, teargas from drones, nails and guns everything is arranged. The dictatorial Modi government is trying to curb the voice of farmers."

Mallikarjun Kharge wrote in a post on X.

कँटीले तार, ड्रोन से आँसू गैस, कीले और बंदूक़ें… सबका है इंतज़ाम,

तानाशाही मोदी सरकार ने किसानों की आवाज़ पर जो लगानी है लगाम !

याद है ना “आंदोलनजीवी” व “परजीवी” कहकर किया था बदनाम, और 750 किसानों की ली थी जान ?

10 सालों में मोदी सरकार ने देश के अन्नदाताओं से किए गए अपने… pic.twitter.com/9iUAzFeXgg

— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) February 13, 2024

Khattar govt harassing farmers in Haryana, says farmer leader

Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher on Tuesday decried the heavy barricading along the borders of Punjab and Haryana in view of the 'Delhi Chalo' march, saying the state borders have been turned into "international borders."

He also accused the Manohar Lal Khattar government of harassing farmers in Haryana. Lashing out at the Haryana government, Pandher said Haryana has been turned into "Kashmir valley."

He also alleged that the state government has sent policemen to every village to harass farmers and deployed water cannons.

Section 144, prohibitory orders imposed in Delhi and Haryana

The Haryana government has also imposed restrictions under Section 144 of the CrPC in as many as 15 districts, prohibiting the assembly of five or more people and banning any kind of demonstration or march with tractor trolleys.

In Delhi, Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora has issued Section 144 and strict prohibitory orders for the next 30 days to maintain law and order in the national capital.

In Haryana, 64 companies of paramilitary personnel and 50 from the Haryana Police have been deployed across various districts.

These personnel are equipped with anti-riot gear and stationed at the border and in sensitive districts.

Additionally, drones and CCTV cameras are being used to monitor miscreants and mischievous elements, said a spokesperson. The Haryana Police is fully capable of addressing any disturbances or untoward incidents, said the spokesperson.

#WATCH | Concrete slabs, iron nails, barricades, barbed wires, police and paramilitary personnel deployed at Kurukshetra in Haryana as Punjab farmers are on their way to Delhi pic.twitter.com/1UnfmH99t5

— ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2024

Massive traffic jams at Delhi's borders with UP, Haryana

Massive traffic jams were witnessed at the peripheries of Delhi touching Haryana and Uttar Pradesh as police and paramilitary personnel equipped with anti-riot gear placed multiple layers of barricades, concrete blocks, iron nails, and walls of containers in view of the ‘Delhi Chalo march’ call given by farmers.

Similarly, traffic snarls were also reported on the Gurugram-Delhi national highway. A commuter, while speaking to TNIE, expressed strong resentment as he was getting late for the office.

“I knew about the farmers coming towards Delhi today so I planned to go to the office an hour earlier from my house in Sector 32 Gurugram but still I reached an hour late. This is terrible," said Rakesh.

The Delhi-Haryana border fortified with multiple layers of barb wire barricades to prevent farmers from marching to the national capital. (Photo | Ujwal Jalali, EPS)

Haryana police hurl tear gas at farmers, few detained at Shambu border

The Haryana Police fired tear gas shells when a group of youth, who were part of the farmers' 'Delhi Chalo' protest march, tried to break barricades set up at the Shambhu border in Ambala, on Tuesday morning.

Despite an appeal by the Haryana Police to stay away from the barricades, many youth continued to stay put and stood over the barricades, officials said.

When a few youth broke an iron barricade and tried to throw it off the Ghaggar river bridge, the police lobbed several rounds of tear gas shells. They also used a drone later on to drop a tear gas shell.

A few farmers were detained as well near the Shambhu border, official sources said.

Read Full Story Here

Punjab farmers clash with Haryana police at Jind border

After chaos at the Shambhu border, Punjab farmers clash with Haryana police at the Jind border. Police use tear gas and water cannons to disperse marching farmers.

Stones being pelted at police by protesters, tear gas shells used to control the situation, says a Haryana Police spokesperson.

Turbulent scenes at Shambu border as Haryana police use force to curtail march

• Chaotic scenes erupt at the Punjab-Haryana border as the Haryana government attempts to block protesting farmers from reaching the national capital

• Haryana police use tear gas shells, water cannons at the Ambala-Shambhu border to dispers the marching farmers

• Haryana farmers who had arrived at Shambhu border were detained by police; some were also lathi-charged

• Clashes resulted in injuries as farmers attempt to breach barricades

• Some farmers are also alleging that Haryana police fired rubber bullets to disperse them

• Haryana Police have made more security arrangements at Kurukshetra and Karnal to prevent further escalation

  READ FULL REPORT HERE

#WATCH | Police use water cannons to disperse the protesting farmers at the Haryana-Punjab Shambhu border. pic.twitter.com/TbdXCytCMX

— ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2024

Traffic halted at Tikri; Singhu border being sealed

Security has been firmed up along the Singhu and Tikri borders with Delhi in a bid to halt the farmers march into the national capital.

In Tikri, the police have blocked different streets that lead to the highway to ensure that farmers do not enter using narrow alleys. Traffic has been halted from both sides at Tikri.

Meanwhile, the Delhi police issued a traffic advisory for the Singhu border even as the border was being completely sealed with cement boulders.

The Singhu Border will not be accessible and traffic will be diverted at Mukarba Chowk, where vehicles intending to go to Haryana will be moved towards Loni Border or Madhuban Chowk onwards to Ring Road.

Centre accepted most demands, ready to discuss MSP: Agriculture minister

Arjun Munda, Minister of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, has said that a law on Minimum Support Price (MSP) "cannot be brought in a hurry" and that it needs "wider consultations" with stakeholders. He added that the government has accepted most of the demands laid out by farmers and that they are ready to discuss demands related to the guarantee on MSP.

Munda is part of the ministerial delegation that held two rounds of discussion with the farmers' groups, including Samyuka Kisan Morcha (non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha in Chandigarh, to resolve their concerns. However, as the talks remained inconclusive, farmers' groups decided to begin their 'Delhi Chalo' march on Tuesday.

"There will be a need for consultation. We need to discuss this with the states. We need to prepare a forum for discussion and find a solution. The government of India is bound to protect the interests of the farmers... inconvenience should not be caused to the public. The farmers' union needs to understand this."

Arjun Munda, Agriculture Minister

Legal guarantee on MSP once INDIA bloc comes to power: Congress

The Congress on Tuesday condemned the BJP governments at the Centre and in states for stopping protesting farmers from marching to Delhi and promised to fulfil their key demand of a law guaranteeing MSP for various crops once the INDIA bloc comes to power.

Supporting the farmers' agitation, the opposition party asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to directly talk to them and provide justice.

"Farmer brothers, today is a historic day! Congress has decided to give a legal guarantee of MSP to every farmer on crops as per the Swaminathan Commission. This step will change the lives of 15 crore farmer families by ensuring their prosperity. This is the first guarantee of Congress on the path of justice. #KisaanNYAYGuarantee."

Rahul Gandhi via a post on X in Hindi

किसान भाइयों आज ऐतिहासिक दिन है!

कांग्रेस ने हर किसान को फसल पर स्वामीनाथन कमीशन के अनुसार MSP की कानूनी गारंटी देने का फैसला लिया है।

यह कदम 15 करोड़ किसान परिवारों की समृद्धि सुनिश्चित कर उनका जीवन बदल देगा।

न्याय के पथ पर यह कांग्रेस की पहली गारंटी है।#KisaanNYAYGuarantee

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) February 13, 2024

Keep promises, avoid repressive measures: SKM writes to PM Modi

• Farmers' union collective SKM, or Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political), has written to PM Modi, asking the government to not break its promises and urging against using repressive measures on protesting farmers.

• SKM also urged PM Modi to address farmer grievances amid corporate interference in agriculture and announced an industrial strike and Grameen Bharat Bandh on February 16.

• The letter recalls the government's unfulfilled commitments from Dec 9, 2021, including the declaration of MSP, debt waiver, and punishment for Lakhimpur Kheri violence, and criticises the government's failure to form committees and engage with SKM.

"Your government has failed to form and conduct the committee to look into all these issues and resolve them in a time bound manner. Your ministers have been hesitant to talk with SKM while more interested to talk with other platforms  to project that the  farmers' movement is divided in order to escape from your constitutional responsibility of solving the problems that distress the farmers."

Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political)

People cross Delhi-Haryana border on foot as police stop vehicles

People had to cross the Singhu border between Delhi and Haryana on foot on Tuesday as police blocked the movement of vehicles in view of a farmers' march towards the national capital.

Police have put up barricades and placed concrete slabs on the road to prevent the protesting farmers from entering Delhi.

Satya Prakash from Himachal Pradesh had no idea that the border was sealed for traffic movement. "We came all the way from Himachal Pradesh on some work. We have to go to Delhi. The bus driver dropped the vehicle at the border from where we are walking towards the city," Prakash said.

Pintu Singh, who was going to Faridabad from Ambala with his wife and one-year-old daughter, said, "This is not fair on the part of the authorities. How can I cross the border on foot while carrying my daughter in my arms? We have to go to Faridabad and we are not sure whether we will get any public transport."

Passengers coming to Delhi are being alighted before entering the Singhu border on Tuesday.(Photo | Ujwal Jalai, EPS)

Punjab & Haryana HC says protestors have 'right to move', warns against use of force

The Punjab and Haryana High Court, on Tuesday, called for an amicable settlement between the parties and remarked that the use of force should be the last resort. The court also issued notices to the Punjab, Haryana, and Union governments, asking them to file a status report.

During the hearing, the court acknowledged the protestors' right to free movement as Indian citizens, emphasising the state government's duty to safeguard citizens and take measures to prevent any inconvenience caused to them.

• The court was hearing two petitions on the farmers' 'Delhi Chalo' protest march and listed the matter for February 15.

• The first petitioner sought a court order to halt "obstructive" actions by the Haryana, Punjab, and Union governments against protests.

• The second petitioner urged punishment for highway blockers and called on states and NHAI to prevent road blockages by protesters.

Delhi Police chief inspects security arrangements at Tikri border

Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora visited the Tikri border on Tuesday to inspect the security arrangements put in place in view of the farmers' march to the national capital.

Arora was accompanied by Special Commissioner, Law and Order, Madhup Tiwari, and Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer), Jimmy Chiram.

According to officials, more than 5,000 personnel of police and paramilitary forces have been deployed in the Tikri, Singhu, and Ghazipur border areas to maintain law and order.

The Delhi Police on Monday imposed section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) in the entire city and completely secured its borders.

Surveillance equipment such as drones and CCTV cameras are being utilised to monitor the border areas.

What are the farmers' demands?

Farmers' associations, mostly from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Punjab, are spearheading the protests, seeking the following demands:

• Legal guarantee on the Minimum Support Price for crops

• Implementation of the MS Swaminathan Commission's recommendations with legal guarantee of procurement

• Pensions for farmers and farm labourers hiked to Rs 10,000 per month

• Farm debt waiver with a reduction in input costs

• Reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013 and comprehensive crop insurance payable for damage to each plot of land

• No to increase in electricity tariff and no to use of smart metres as per the new electricity bill

• 200 days of employment every year with a daily wage of Rs 700 under MGNREGA

• Withdrawal from the World Trade Organisation and ban on all Free Trade Agreements

• Withdrawal of police cases against those involved in the 2020–21 farmers' agitation

• Compensation for families of farmers who died during the previous 2020–21 agitation

• Punishment for those guilty in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence and compensation for those killed

Tamil Nadu farmers hold solidarity stir, warn of "naked protest" in PM Modi's constituency

Led by farmer leader P Ayyakannu, ryots from Tamil Nadu staged a 'road roko' protest in Tiruchy on Tuesday, and raised slogans in support of the farmers marching to Delhi.

The farmers urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to fulfill promises such as doubling farmers income and ensuring Minimum Support Price.

The farmers also warned that if these demands are not met, "111 farmers will stage a naked protest in the constituency to be contested by Modi."

Farmers led by local leader Ayyakannu stage road block in support of Delhi farmers protest in Tiruchy on Tuesday. (Express/M K Ashok Kumar)