Farmers suspend foot march to Delhi for a day

New Delhi: Protesting farmers on Saturday suspended their “Delhi chalo” for a day after some of them were injured in teargas shelling by Haryana security personnel as new jattha of 101 farmers tried to cross the police barricade in Shambhu area along the Punjab border.

Punjab farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said they will soon decide the next course of action.

The farmers under the banner of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha have been pressing for several demands, including a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP). The farmer unions have also urged the Center to initiate talks with them to address their issues.

Briefing the media, Mr Pandher said: “The two forums have decided to call back jattha. About seventeen farmers have sustained injuries during the action of Haryana security personnel.”

The farmer leader alleged that “chemically mixed water was used to disperse the farmers and more tear gas shells were used this time.” However, the police officials refuted the allegation.

Mr. Pandher further said while the debate is going on in Parliament on the 75 years of the Constitution being adopted, “No one is raising the voice for the farmers in Parliament… Here we want to know which Constitution applies to our protest. How can a jattha of 101 farmers pose a threat to the law and order of the country?”

Another farmer leader Manjit Singh Rai alleged that rubber bullets were also used by security personnel to disperse the protesting farmers, leaving one farmer seriously injured.

“Both forums have decided to call back the jattha for today and the next action will be taken after a meeting,” Mr Rai said.

About the next action, Mr. Pandher said that a tractor march will be held on December 16 in the states except Punjab. A “rail roko” protest will be held in Punjab on December 18 from 12 noon to 3 pm.

Haryana security personnel fired tear gas shells and also used water cannon to disperse the protesters. The action came after the group of farmers, who resumed their foot march towards Delhi from Shambhu protest site on the Punjab-Haryana border shortly after noon on Saturday, reached the barricades erected by Haryana security personnel.

Ambala’s Superintendent of Police SS Bhoria told the farmers to seek permission from the authorities concerned if they planned to protest in Delhi. “We’ll help you get there too,” he said.

At the spot where you are standing in protest, as per the Supreme Court order of July 24, instructions have been issued to maintain status quo at Shambhu border so that no untoward incident takes place, SP Bhoria told them.

On Saturday, the protesting farmers made their third attempt to march towards the national capital. Farmers had made the two previous attempts on December 6 and 8, but were not allowed to proceed by security personnel.