The Centre once again made it clear that announcing a guaranteed minimum support price (MSP), the main demand of the farmers, will not be possible as the protests by farmers affiliated with the Samyukt Kisan Morcha – Non-Political (SKM-NP), a splinter group of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) escalated into a full-blown conflict with the security forces at various points on the Haryana-Punjab border on Tuesday. On the other hand, the government proposed a third round of negotiations with the group leaders.
The Congress promised to enact a guaranteed MSP if it were to win power, and the opposition quickly entered the picture. Meanwhile, supporters of the February 16 rural and industrial strike called on SKM-NP to cease its own fighting and join the farmers in calling on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to step in and stop using force against them.
Farmers were urged by Union Ministers of Agriculture Arjun Munda and Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur to be cautious when incorporating “disruptive elements” into their movements. Mr. Munda made it clear to the media that the Centre needed to consider all relevant factors when drafting a law ensuring MSP. According to Mr. Thakur, protestors must realise that if they keep bringing up new topics for discussion, a resolution will not come about right away.
Another round of talks has been extended to farmers and is expected to take place on Wednesday. The two rounds of discussions, led by Mr. Munda and Minister Piyush Goyal, had collapsed. “We are not averse to discussions. Will wait for the outcome of it and if it fails, farmers will breach the blockades and will start marching to Delhi,” said K.V. Biju, a senior leader of SKM-NP. He said more than 60 farmers were injured in the lathi charge and firing of rubber bullets and tear gas shells on them by the police.
Meanwhile, borders throughout the capital remained closely guarded and severely barricaded in preparation for the march. In Kundli, Haryana, more than 100 roadblocks with barbed wires were erected along a seven-kilometer section of the Singhu border. Along with anti-riot gear, teams from the Delhi Police, CAPF, and RAPF were also strategically stationed at all locations. Prohibition orders still apply, hence some entrance and exit gates of specific Metro stations close to significant buildings, such as Parliament, have been closed. By Tuesday night, they had subsequently opened.
There was also a noticeable increase in police presence along Delhi’s borders with Uttar Pradesh. Under investigation were the Ghazipur border, the straight flight path between Delhi and Noida, and other notable sites. Police tried to maintain smooth traffic flow at these borders, but it also made it impossible for ambulances and other emergency vehicles to move. Because of security concerns, the Archaeological Survey of India reported that the Red Fort complex has been closed to tourists. This is especially true in light of the fact that on January 26, 2021, a large number of protesting farmers stormed the central area of Delhi. Police personnel were also strewn all over Central Delhi.
at order to disperse the protesters from Punjab, the Haryana Police used water cannons and drones equipped with tear gas when farmers got into fights with them at various locations along the border with Punjab. Farmers had pushed and discarded the multi-layer barricades to arrive in hundreds of “tractor-trolley” convoys. They were carrying essential supplies, including food, medicine, clothes etc.
A few of them attempted to forcibly remove barriers and hurled stones at the police officers. On the Shambhu border, angry farmers were also observed damaging flyover safety barriers. Police said that 24 officers were hospitalised after being hit with stones during the protest. A top police official attested to the fact that several demonstrators were taken into custody and then freed. “No one shall cause annoyance; those who do so shall face severe consequences. The Haryana Police spokeswoman and AIG for Administration, Manisha Chaudhary, declared that “the situation is completely under control.”
Sarwan Singh Pandher, the coordinator of KMM, blasted the Centre for targeting the agricultural workers and farmers who were en route to Delhi. According to Mr. Pandher, the farmers threw stones in response to the force. Jagjit Singh Dallewal, another farmer leader, said that around 60 young farmers were injured in the police action.
The SKM wrote to Mr. Modi pleading with him to step in, stating that the persecution inflicted upon farmers is abhorrent and that the Kisan Movement in India is unified and unwavering in its opposition to any such act of authoritarianism and overuse of state authority. The letter added, “As the Prime Minister of India, we implore you to show compassion for the suffering of farmers facing the harsh assault of corporate agriculture meddling that is actively subsidised by union budgets and departmental initiatives.”
The original SKM noted that several Kisan organisations and platforms are battling for the same and common causes in an appeal to SKM-NP. Hence, all the like-minded organisations should make an effort to build a common and united struggle on these issues. “As a first step we urge all of you to kindly extend support and participate actively in the call for industrial/ sectoral strike and Grameen Bandh on February 16 across India,” it said.
