Patiala: Farmers during their agitation at the Shambhu border, in Patiala district, Punjab, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. A 'jatha' of 101 farmers resumed their foot march to Delhi on Saturday from the Shambhu border to press the Centre for various demands including a legal guarantee for minimum support price, (Photo: PTI)
New Delhi: Protesting farmers on Saturday suspended their “Delhi chalo” for the day after some of them suffered injuries in tear gas shelling by Haryana security personnel as a fresh jattha of 101 farmers tried to cross the police barricade in the Shambhu area along the border with Punjab. Farmer leader from Punjab Sarwan Singh Pandher said that they will decide the next course of action soon.
The farmers under the banner of Samyukta Kisan Morcha(Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha have been pressing for various demands, including a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP). The farmers' unions have also been pressing the Centre to initiate talks with them to address their issues.
Briefing the media, Pandher said, "The two forums have decided to call back our jattha. Around 17 farmers have sustained injuries during the Haryana security personnel action."
The farmer leader alleged that "chemical mixed water was used to disperse the farmers and more teargas shells were used this time". The police officials, however, refuted the allegation.
Mr Pandher further said while the debate is going on in Parliament on the 75 years of the adoption of the Constitution, "No one is raising the voice for farmers in Parliament... Over here we want to know which Constitution applies to our protest. How can a jattha of 101 farmers pose a threat to the country's law and order?"
Another farmer leader Manjit Singh Rai alleged that rubber bullets were also used by security personnel to disperse the protesting farmers, as a result of which one farmer was seriously injured.
"Both the forums have decided to call back the jattha for today and the next course of action will be taken after a meeting," Rai said.
On the next course of action, Pandher said a tractor march will be taken out in states except Punjab on December 16. A "rail roko" protest will be held on December 18 from noon to 3 pm in Punjab.
The Haryana security personnel fired teargas shells and also used a water cannon to disperse the protesters. The action came after the group of farmers, who resumed their foot march to Delhi shortly after noon on Saturday from the Shambhu protest site on the Punjab-Haryana border, reached the barricades put up by the Haryana security personnel.
Ambala's superintendent of police S.S. Bhoria told the farmers that they should take permission from the authorities concerned if they intend to protest in Delhi. "We will also help you reach there," he said.
The spot where you are standing in protest, according to the Supreme Court order of July 24, directions were issued to maintain the status quo at the Shambhu border so that no untoward incident occurs, SP Bhoria told them.
On Saturday, the protesting farmers made their third attempt to march towards the national capital. Farmers had made the two earlier attempts on December 6 and December 8 but were not allowed to proceed by the security personnel.
Briefing the media, Pandher said, "The two forums have decided to call back our jattha. Around 17 farmers have sustained injuries during the Haryana security personnel action."
The farmer leader alleged that "chemical mixed water was used to disperse the farmers and more teargas shells were used this time". The police officials, however, refuted the allegation.
Mr Pandher further said while the debate is going on in Parliament on the 75 years of the adoption of the Constitution, "No one is raising the voice for farmers in Parliament... Over here we want to know which Constitution applies to our protest. How can a jattha of 101 farmers pose a threat to the country's law and order?"
Another farmer leader Manjit Singh Rai alleged that rubber bullets were also used by security personnel to disperse the protesting farmers, as a result of which one farmer was seriously injured.
"Both the forums have decided to call back the jattha for today and the next course of action will be taken after a meeting," Rai said.
On the next course of action, Pandher said a tractor march will be taken out in states except Punjab on December 16. A "rail roko" protest will be held on December 18 from noon to 3 pm in Punjab.
The Haryana security personnel fired teargas shells and also used a water cannon to disperse the protesters. The action came after the group of farmers, who resumed their foot march to Delhi shortly after noon on Saturday from the Shambhu protest site on the Punjab-Haryana border, reached the barricades put up by the Haryana security personnel.
Ambala's superintendent of police S.S. Bhoria told the farmers that they should take permission from the authorities concerned if they intend to protest in Delhi. "We will also help you reach there," he said.
The spot where you are standing in protest, according to the Supreme Court order of July 24, directions were issued to maintain the status quo at the Shambhu border so that no untoward incident occurs, SP Bhoria told them.
On Saturday, the protesting farmers made their third attempt to march towards the national capital. Farmers had made the two earlier attempts on December 6 and December 8 but were not allowed to proceed by the security personnel.
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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