The farmers are scheduled to resume their Delhi Chalo’ march on Wednesday from two locations on the Punjab-Haryana border, following the failure of four rounds of negotiations with the central government over the guarantee of the minimum support price (MSP) for crops.
At the border crossings of the city at Tikri, Singhu, and Ghazipur, the Delhi Police has increased security and held simulated drills on Tuesday. Security guards were stationed at the city’s three border crossings on Tuesday, according to Delhi Police authorities, in order to maintain a state of heightened alert.
Leader of the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, Sarwan Singh Pandher, stated that the farmers who are protesting have asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene and terminate the demonstration. Pandher also said, “We have made you the PM, we never thought that the forces would oppress us this way”.
A group of ministers suggested on Sunday that central agencies purchase five products from farmers at MSP for a period of five years: moong dal, urad dal, tur dal, maize, and cotton. This proposal sparked the most recent round of negotiations between farmers and the government. The farmers publicly rejected the government’s proposal, stating on Tuesday that it was not in their best interests, according to Jagjit Singh Dallewal, leader of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (a non-political organisation).
“We have told the govt that you can kill us but please don’t oppress the farmers. We request the Prime Minister to come forward and put an end to this protest by announcing a law on the MSP guarantee for the farmers…The country will not forgive such a govt…There are paramilitary forces deployed in the villages of Haryana…What crime have we committed?…We have made you the Prime Minister. We never thought that the forces would oppress us this way…Please protect the Constitution and let us peacefully head towards Delhi. This is our right,” Pandher said, as quoted by news agency.
The farmers are attempting to breach barriers at the interstate boundaries by bringing in heavy equipment, such as JCB machines and excavators. Bulldozers and other earthmoving machinery to be seized from the interstate border, the Haryana Police urged their Punjabi colleagues on Tuesday. Haryana Director General of Police Shatrujeet Kapoor said that these could pose a threat to the security forces deployed at the border.
The Haryana Police has asked its Punjabi counterparts to issue a severe warning to the owners or operators of such equipment, stating that doing so would “amount to a criminal act and they would be criminally liable for the same,” to the protesting farmers.
In response to farmers’ ‘Delhi Chalo’ agitation, the Haryana government on Tuesday extended the ban on mobile internet and bulk SMS services in seven districts until Wednesday, according to news agency. Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad, and Sirsa are the districts that are impacted. The mobile internet ban was previously extended by the authorities on February 13, 15, 17, and 19.
Pandher stated that the Centre ought to call a full day of Parliament to draft legislation about the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops, before to the commencement of the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march, according to news agency. The ‘Delhi Chalo’ movement is being led by the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha and the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political).
On Tuesday, farmers who were their route to the national capital were arrested in Manesar.
