Today is the second day of Farmer Protest 2.0. Farmers from Punjab are attempting to enter Haryana from the Shambhu and Khanauri borders. However, the police have been consistently using tear gas, water cannons, and rubber bullets to deter the farmers. Additionally, farmers have been continuously trying to remove barricades and cut barbed wires. In this process, several farmers and security personnel have sustained injuries.
The scheduled meeting between the farmers’ leaders and the central government ministers has been postponed. Jagjeet Singh Dallewal, leader of the United Farmers Front (non-political), addressed a press conference and informed that discussions between farmers’ leaders and the government will take place tomorrow evening in Chandigarh. He stated that disrupting the agitation is the government’s motive, but they want to present their demands peacefully before the government. Furthermore, he mentioned that security will also be provided for journalists of the union. Farmers’ leaders also apologized for the mistreatment of journalists.
Farmers’ leaders alleged that the central government is deliberately shutting down their social media accounts. They questioned why shelling is being done when they have stated that they will peacefully sit for discussions. They reiterated that they do not seek confrontation and want to peacefully continue their protest in Delhi.
Regarding the meeting, Dallewal mentioned that no discussions took place. A letter has been received for talks with a central minister today. He stated that until discussions take place in the meeting, they will not move forward. Additionally, he expressed readiness for conditional talks this time. The venue for the meeting remains Chandigarh Sector 26. The same ministers from the government who held discussions previously will continue negotiations. It is noteworthy that three ministers from the center are engaging in discussions with farmers, including Piyush Goyal, Arjun Munda, and Nityanand Rai.
Meanwhile, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher stated that they will go to Delhi at all costs. He also informed that farmers are gathered at the Shambhu border. Despite facing several challenges, the situation there is currently under control.
Information has been received that once again the government has initiated talks with the farmers. Discussions between farmers and government representatives will take place via video conferencing under the mediation of the Punjab government. Farmers’ leaders will meet top officials of the Punjab government at 6 p.m. today in Punjab Bhawan, Chandigarh. The Punjab government is facilitating the meeting with the center through video conferencing.
In the meantime, the United Farmers Front has supported the demands of the farmers. Additionally, condemnation has been expressed against the use of force by the administration on farmers. The United Farmers Front held a press conference in Jalandhar and informed that from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. tomorrow, all toll plazas in Haryana and Punjab will be occupied by farmers. During this time, all toll plazas will be made toll-free. If the government still does not agree, another meeting will be convened on February 18 to devise the next strategy. After the United Farmers Front, farmer leader Gurnam Chadhuni supported the farmers while deeming their demands legitimate. Additionally, Chadhuni stated that farmers are being treated like enemies of the country’s soldiers. This is not a Pakistan border where the government is firing tear gas and bullets; they stand in solidarity with Punjab’s farmers. A meeting of officials has been called on Wednesday to discuss this issue.
