Shreya Varanasi, Pune
On Tuesday, farmer leaders of the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march declared a temporary ceasefire for the day saying that they will postpone discussions till tomorrow morning.
Earlier in the day, farmers from Punjab marched towards Delhi to remind the Indian government about the enactment of a law on minimum support price despite the heavy security on the Punjab-Haryana border as well as entry points of the capital. The protesters tried to break barricades set up at the Shambhu (Haryana-Punjab) border by the security forces. The Haryana police in turn used teargas shells through drones as well as lathi charge to disperse the crowd.
Despite the Haryana Police’s appeal to keep away from the barriers, many demonstrators remained and stood over them, the police said. Meanwhile, the farmer leaders expressed their concern for the safety of their people. They said that around 60 of the men participating in the “Delhi Chalo” march have sustained injuries. They claimed that the government is provoking them by attacking them with tear gas shells and rubber bullets.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court approved farmers’ protests across the states on Tuesday, stating that “they have the right to move” as Indian citizens. While hearing two Public Interest Litigations (PILs) related to the agitation that reached Delhi from Punjab and Haryana on Tuesday, the court emphasized that state governments should ensure the safety and convenience of their citizens and take steps to avoid any inconvenience to them.
Farmers’ clash with the police while on their way to Delhi prompted the Delhi Police to block the Tikri border, according to news agency – PTI. The Delhi Police also barred all entry and departure points from surrounding streets and villages that connect the highway near Tikri Metro Station. Meanwhile, the Congress on Tuesday committed to meet the farmers’ main demand for a law ensuring Minimum Support Price (MSP) for varied crops whenever the I.N.D.I.A coalition wins power.
Meanwhile, the Union Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda reacted to the protest and said a legislation ensuring minimum support price on crops cannot be brought in a hurry without consulting all stakeholders, and he asked protesting farmer groups to have a systematic debate with the government on the subject.