Farmers, who have been protesting at the Punjab-Haryana borders for more than nine months, are set to march towards Parliament on Friday to advocate for their demands, which include a legal guarantee for a minimum support price (MSP) for their crops.
They have been positioned at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders since February 13. As the protest is scheduled to start at 1 pm from the Shambhu border, security measures have been heightened, with police stating they are adequately prepared to manage the situation. Authorities have implemented heavy barricading and imposed a ban on gatherings of five or more individuals in the Ambala district.
Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher announced that the farmers would march on foot rather than using tractors. Approximately 100 farmers are anticipated to commence the march from the Shambhu border. “We have been here for eight months. To counter claims about our tractors being modified, we decided to proceed to Delhi on foot,” Pandher mentioned, noting that the movement has gained backing from khap panchayats and members of the business community.
The farmers’ primary demand remains a legal guarantee for MSP. They had previously tried to march to Delhi on February 13 and February 21 but were obstructed by security personnel at the Punjab-Haryana borders. The protesting farmers, representing the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, have been stationed at these border points since then.
The march is taking place after months of halted discussions with the central government. “We had four rounds of talks in February, but there has been no dialogue since February 18,” Pandher stated, advocating for renewed discussions to address the farmers’ issues. Residents of Delhi-NCR may experience traffic disruptions due to increased security at the borders and the erection of barricades at key routes. A recent protest by farmers from Uttar Pradesh already caused significant inconvenience to commuters.
FARMERS’ DEMANDS In addition to the legal guarantee for MSP, farmers are seeking a debt waiver, pensions for farmers and laborers, and prevention of electricity tariff hikes. They are also calling for “justice” for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence, reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, and compensation for the families of farmers who died during the previous agitation of 2020-21.
On Monday, Pandher noted that a group of farmers met with Ambala’s Superintendent of Police to inform them about their planned march to Delhi on December 6. Emphasizing that the protest would remain peaceful, Pandher said, “The district administration has accused us of possessing weapons, but we will march in peace.”
SECURITY MEASURES In anticipation of the protest, Ambala’s Superintendent of Police and Inspector-General of Police inspected the Shambhu border on Thursday evening. Security arrangements, including the deployment of paramilitary forces, drones, and water cannons, have been established.
After reviewing the security measures, Ambala SP Surendra Bhoria stated that everything was in place and that no one would be permitted to take the law into their own hands. “If the farmers intend to go to Delhi, they need first to obtain permission from Delhi Police,” he indicated.
On Wednesday, the Ambala district administration advised Punjab farmers to reconsider their proposed march to Delhi, suggesting they wait for permission from the Delhi Police. However, the Delhi Police mentioned that they had not received any request from the Punjab farmers to march to the city.
The Ambala administration has also enforced Section 163 of BNSS, which restricts gatherings of five or more individuals in the district and has issued notices at the Shambhu border protest site. The farmers have appealed to the government to allow the march without interference. “We want the government to permit us to exercise our democratic right to protest,” Pandher emphasized. In light of the farmers’ planned march, all government and private schools in Ambala have been closed today.
