New Delhi: After an unsuccessful attempt to march to Delhi on Friday from the Shambhu Border due to heavy barricading and tear gas shelling by the police, agitating farmers have suspended the protest on Saturday in a bid to hold talks with the government, failing which they would resume the ‘Dilli Chalo’ march on Sunday.
The decision to suspend the march after some of the protesting farmers suffered injuries during Friday’s tussle with the police who stopped them at the Punjab-Haryana border, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher has said.
In response to a call by the farmer unions Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, a ‘jatha’ of 101 farmers set out on foot towards Delhi at 1 pm from their protest site at the Shambhu border. The march aimed to press for various demands, including a legal guarantee for the Minimum Support Price (MSP). The farmers have also urged the Centre to initiate discussions to resolve their concerns.
However, the ‘jatha’ was halted just a few metres away by multilayered barricades set up by Haryana security forces. Water cannon vehicles were also stationed at the Shambhu border point.
Farmers to resume march to Delhi on Sunday
Pandher announced on Friday that if the Union Government fails to engage in talks with them by tomorrow, a group of 101 farmers will march towards Delhi on 8 December at 12 noon.
Speaking to ANI at the Shambhu border, Pandher stated, “We will wait until tomorrow for discussions with the government. If no talks are held, a ‘jatha’ of 101 farmers will march towards Delhi on 8 December at 12 noon,” he said.
“We will wait until tomorrow if any proposal comes for holding talks (from the Centre). Now, whether the Centre wants to hold a dialogue or not will be their decision, we want talks to be held.
