For approximately eight months, farmer organizations have been staging a protest at the Shambhu border. Recently, they made another attempt to march to Delhi, which led to intense standoffs with the police. As farmers from Punjab moved towards Delhi, they were stopped at the Shambhu border, leading to a confrontation with the Haryana police. Farmers broke through security barriers, climbing over barricades, and stood in defiance. In response, the police used tear gas shells to disperse the crowd. Consequently, chaos ensued at the Shambhu border, and a farmer was taken into custody. Post the clash with the police during the march to Delhi, security at the Shambhu border has been tightened. Internet services have been shut down in Ambala.
Hours after starting their march to Delhi, farmers retreated from the Shambhu border. Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher revealed that several farmers were injured in confrontations with the police, including two seriously. He criticized the government for the police's use of force and announced plans to march again on Sunday.
It should be noted that on Friday, 101 farmers' groups attempted to begin their march to Delhi from the Shambhu protest site. However, police had set up multilayered barricades on the border. They fired tear gas shells to disperse the protestors gathered there. Haryana police officials cited the Prohibition Orders under the Indian Citizen Security Code (BANSCC) Section 163, instructing protestors not to proceed further. Some farmers were seen removing nails and barbed wire from roads and covering tear gas shells with wet jute bags.
Source: aajtak
What Did Farmer Leader Pandher Say?
Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher declared that they do not wish for schools to be shut down or internet services to be interrupted, urging the central government to initiate discussions. They are ready, and have given time for talks, with suggestions that the central agriculture minister participate. Pandher shared that eight people were injured in the confrontation with the police, with two being seriously hurt. The Indian government applied force to stop them, even though they were unarmed. They sent a disciplined delegation of 101 individuals, acknowledging they wouldn’t breach barricades, but commenced the march regardless. Farmer Pandher questioned PM Modi, asking why they are being treated as adversaries.
Source: aajtak
Agriculture Minister Calls Government a Friend to Farmers
Amid the political tumult over farmers' march to Delhi, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan addressed the Rajya Sabha, asserting the government's alignment with farmers’ interests. He assured the house that all crops would be purchased at the minimum support price, upholding Modi's government's promise.
Source: aajtak
Congress Criticizes Government Amid Delhi Farmers' March
As farmers continue their protest and march to Delhi, Agriculture Minister reassures MSP guarantees, while opposition party Congress intensifies their attacks. They question why farmers are agitating if they are a priority for Modi's government. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi voiced concerns on social media over farmers' demands and the government's stance, recalling the hardships that led over 700 farmers to lose their lives in the previous protests. He pushed for legal guarantees on MSP, urgent enactment of farmers' demands, and an understanding of their plight to ensure a prosperous nation.
