New Delhi: After suspending their march to Delhi on Friday, 101 farmers from Punjab are set to resume their procession to the national capital on Sunday at noon. The farmers, who are facing tight security at the Shambhu border, will continue their peaceful protest despite the challenges they have faced, reported news agency ANI.
Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher, speaking at a press conference, said that they had not received any communication from the central government regarding talks. He accused the Modi government of showing no willingness to engage in discussions with the protesting farmers. Pandher said that the Samyukta Kisan Morcha and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, two non-political farmer organisations, had decided to resume the march with 101 farmers on December 8.
March halted
The farmers began their journey towards Delhi on Friday, but their progress was hindered when security forces used tear gas to disperse them at the Shambhu border in Haryana’s Ambala district. The situation escalated when Section 163 of the BNSS Act was invoked, whicih prohibits the assembly of five or more people.
The march was temporarily stopped after 16 farmers were injured, one of whom lost their hearing due to the tear gas shelling by Haryana’s security personnel. Apart from the ongoing march, another prominent farmer leader, Jagjit Singh Dallewal, is carrying out a fast-unto-death protest at the Khanauri border. It is reported that Dallewal has lost eight kilogrammes during his fast.
Security beefed up
The authorities have set up multilayered barricades at the border and security measures have been heightened in anticipation of the farmers’ march on Sunday. This will be the fourth attempt by farmers to lead a procession to Parliament in Delhi. Earlier, on February 13 and 21, they had tried to organise a ‘Dilli Chalo’ march using tractors and trolleys. However, those attempts were stopped after a farmer was killed in clashes with the police.
What are the demands?
The farmers’ demands remain the same: a legal guarantee for the minimum support price (MSP) of crops, justice for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence, and compensation for the families of those who died in the 2020-21 protests. They are also calling for a debt waiver, pensions for farmers and farm labourers, the reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act and a halt to the hike in electricity tariffs.
