On Tuesday, the Punjab-Haryana Shambhu border saw chaotic scenes as angry farmers marched towards Delhi and attempted to break through police barricades.
Farmers were observed attempting to remove the cement wall with their tractors while attempting to reach the Shambhu border.
The police used tear gas to disperse protestors at the Punjab-Haryana Shambhu Border as they attempted to breach the multi-layered barricades.
In preparation for the farmers’ ‘Delhi Chalo’ march, the police have deployed concrete slabs, iron nails, barricades, barbed wires, police, and paramilitary men in Kurukshetra, Haryana.
On security deployment at the Jharoda border, DCP Dwarka Ankit Singh said, “Section 144 CrPC is imposed in the city, tractor trolleys are not allowed in the city. Social media monitoring has also been done. Drone is an effective tool for security monitoring, we will use it.”
Earlier in the day, Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee General Secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher stated that all efforts were made during the conference to find a solution to prevent a confrontation with the government, and that they expected a positive outcome.
Union Minister Arjun Munda responded to the farmers’ ‘Delhi Chalo’ march by emphasizing the importance of patience and thought in addressing the farming community’s issues.
“We care about the interests of the farmers. It is not our concern if someone is doing politics over this issue. We have always been ready for talks and discussions and we are ready to do everything possible to find a solution to this issue.”
Arjun Munda is one of several ministers conducting discussions with farmer leaders, including Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal, Minister of State Nityanand Rai, and Punjab Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal.
The farmers have presented 12 demands to the central government, for which they are marching to Delhi.
The protest was organized by the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha and the Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, which is led by farmer union leaders Jagjeet Singh Dallewal and Sarwan Singh Pandher.
According to the protesting farmers, the centre guaranteed them higher crop prices after which they terminated their 2021 protest.
They want to pass legislation ensuring a minimum support price (MSP) for all crops, as suggested by the Swaminathan Commission report.
They also want a comprehensive debt waiver and a system to pay pensions to farmers and farm workers.
Farmers have also advocated the repeal of the Electricity Amendment Bill 2020 and the reintroduction of the Land Acquisition Act of 2013, which requires farmer approval and compensation equal to four times the collector rate.
They also demand that those responsible for the Lakhimpur Kheri massacres be punished.
Farmers have also made an appeal to offer 200 days of employment per year and a daily pay of Rs 700 under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 (MGNREGA), which is linked to farming.
In addition, a demand has been made for compensation to the families of farmers who died during the protests in 2021, as well as a job for any family member.