Farmers from Haryana and Punjab are scheduled to reach Delhi on Thursday through five highways connecting the city as part of their ‘ Delhi Chalo ’ march call.
Earlier, the Delhi Police had rejected requests from various farmer organisations to protest in the national capital against the Centre’s new farm laws on November 26 and 27.
The police had on Tuesday said that legal action would be taken against the protesting farmers if they come to Delhi for any gathering amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Here are the updates:
Left parties slam BJP over use of teargas, water cannons on protesting farmers in Haryana
The Left parties on Thursday hit out at the BJP-led Haryana government for using water cannons and tear gas on farmers moving towards the national capital against the Centre’s farm laws, saying it revealed the “anti-farmer face” of the saffron party.
“This is an attack on the farmers by the BJP government. The CPI has always stood in support of the farmers and the violence against them is highly condemnable. This shows the true anti-farmer face of the BJP,” said CPI general secretary D. Raja.
CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury posted on Twitter photographs of protests from across the country, including that of farmers in Haryana, saying this was the “real India“.
“This is the real India PM (Narendra) Modi. We shall make you listen to us. Withdraw your anti-national, anti-people policies,” he said in an accompanying tweet.
“India’s workforce: Workers and farmers, struck work in countrywide protests despite intimidation, threats and large-scale arrests. Against the ruinous economic policies of Modi government which are mercilessly attacking livelihoods of millions of people. Solidarity,” Mr. Yechury said in a tweet.
Farmers protest: Traffic snarls at border crossings as Delhi Police intensify checking
People coming to the national capital from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh faced traffic snarls at several border crossings as the Delhi Police on Thursday intensified vehicle checking in view of the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march by Punjab farmers against the Centre’s farm laws.
Farmers from Punjab are scheduled to reach Delhi through five highways connecting the city as part of their march.
Senior police officials said that heavy deployment as been made on the Faridabad, Singhu and Gurgaon border crossings with Haryana and vehicle checking has been intensified as a precautionary measure in view of the protest march.
Vehicles are also being checked at the DND and National Highway-24 crossings with Uttar Pradesh, they said, adding that borders have not been sealed, but barricades and cement blocks have been placed to stop trucks and tractors of protesters.
Several commuters coming to the national capital from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh complained of traffic jams due to checking.
Delhi Police personnel have been deployed in large numbers at interstate border crossings as Punjab farmers, representing over 30 farm bodies, have announced they will go to Delhi through several routes, including Lalru, Shambhu, Patiala-Pehowa, Patran-Khanauri, Moonak-Tohana, Ratia-Fatehabad and Talwandi-Sirsa.
Treat farmers with dignity and engage with them: Deve Gowda tells Centre
Former Prime Minister and JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda on Thursday asked the Centre to treat farmers with dignity and engage with them, as he expressed “extreme distress” over police confrontation with them.
Farmers from Punjab faced water cannons and broke police barriers at the states border with Haryana as they pushed towards the national capital on Thursday in their ’Delhi Chalo’ march against the Centres farm laws.
“I am extremely distressed seeing the images of confrontation with farmers near Delhi. I request the Union Government to treat farmers with dignity. Please engage with them.Listen to them. Police force cannot solve the problem.#FarmersProtest,” Mr. Gowda tweeted.
Haryana Congress leaders slam Khattar for using water cannons, tear gas to stop farmers’ march
Haryana Congress leaders on Thursday slammed the Manohar Lal Khattar government for using water cannons and tear gas on farmers moving towards Delhi against the Centre’s farm laws, saying the BJP-led dispensation should exercise restraint and hold talks with the protesters.
Senior Congress leader and former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said the farmers have the right to protest peacefully and by using water cannons and tear gas to stop their march, the state government is trying to muzzle their voice. Speaking to reporters in Rohtak, Mr. Hooda said the government should not try to suppress the voice of the farmers.
Water cannons were used against the farmers... The government should exercise restraint and hold talks with the agitating farmers and try to find a solution, Mr. Hooda, who is the Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly, said.
When the three farm laws were being framed, I had said that the Centre should bring a fourth law making it a punishable offence if anyone makes a crop purchase below the Minimum Support Price (MSP), he said.
Haryana Congress president Kumari Selja alleged that the Centre has tried to break the backbone of the farmers by enacting the three anti-agriculture black laws.
Now, when the farmers are peacefully protesting against these laws, they are not being allowed to do that either. The government has always tricked the farmers and today the government is not even giving them a chance to speak, she said.
On the contrary, they are putting them in jails, using water cannons and tear gas on them, she added.
In a statement, Selja, a former Union Minister, also said the government should rollback the black farm laws and frame a law guaranteeing MSP for farmers.
Farmers standing resolutely in face of Modi govt’s ‘cruelty’: Rahul
Farmers are standing resolutely in the face of “cruelty”, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Thursday as he hit out at the Modi government after Haryana Police used water cannons and teargas to disperse hundreds of farmers from Punjab marching towards Delhi to protest the Centre’s farm laws.
Sharing a video of the incident, Rahul Gandhi tweeted, “The country’s farmers are standing resolutely in the face of Modi government’s cruelty against them.”
He also shared a verse in Hindi lauding the courage of the farmers protesting the farm laws.
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said on Twitter, “Instead of listening to the voice of farmers protesting against the laws that snatch the minimum support price from them, the BJP government attacks them with water in this cold.”
“Everything is being taken away from farmers and banks, loan waivers, airports, railway stations are being distributed to the capitalists,” she alleged in her tweet in Hindi.
Congress’ chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala also hit out at the central and Haryana governments, asking what message does Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister M L Khattar want to give by pitting soldiers in front of farmers.
“They are conspiring to push the country into civil war and that too on the occasion of Constitution Day,” Mr. Surjewala alleged in a tweet in Hindi. - PTI
Haryana DGP alleges 'violent ways' of the farmers
More than 10,000 farmers from Punjab have managed to cross over to Haryana from four border points- two points in Fatehabad and one each in Kaithal and Ambala. At three other points we managed to push them back. We are trying to hold back these Punjab farmers marching towards Delhi and cause delay. The Haryana Police did not any use force against them. We just used tear gas and water cannons and put blockages. The farmers, however, used violent ways and damaged our vehicles. The BKU (Charuni) led farmers group from Ambala also managed to reach till Panipat: Haryana DGP Manoj Yadava to The Hindu . - Ashok Kumar
Centre treating farmers as ‘enemy of State’, alleges Harsimrat Badal
The central government is treating farmers as “enemy of the State”, SAD leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal alleged on Thursday, condemning the use of force to stop them from marching towards Delhi in protest against the Centre’s farm laws.
Ms. Badal had resigned from the Union Cabinet in September in protest against three farm sector bills, which later got the President’s assent after being passed by Parliament. She was the Union minister for food processing industries.
The Centre should not adopt a policy of confrontation with farmers. It should instead talk with them and resolve their grievances, Ms. Badal told PTI.
Her remarks come after tension spiralled at the Shambhu interstate border on Thursday as the Haryana police used water cannons and teargas to disperse hundreds of farmers from Punjab who broke barricades, throwing some into the river, determined to enter the state as part of their ‘Delhi Chalo’ march against the farm laws.
Farmers detained in Delhi
Since last night, 720 of the Rashtriya Kisan Mahasangh farmers who had come as our advance team from various states, have been arrested or detained in Delhi, RKMS spokesperson Abhimanyu Kohar told The Hindu.
Around midnight last night, Delhi Police entered the Majnu ka Tila gurudwara and arrested ten farmers, he said, adding that RKMS leader Shivkumar "Kakkaji" Sharma was arrested while protesting in Majnu ka Tila this afternoon, and is being held at the Morris Nagar Police Station in north Delhi.
Mr. Kohar condemned the police action, and said it would not deter the convoy of thousands of other farmers who have broken police barricades in Haryana and are now only 100 km away from the capital.
’Today is Punjab’s 26/11’: Sukhbir Singh Badal on stopping farmers’ Delhi Chalo march
Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal on Thursday slammed the Haryana government for trying to thwart farmers’ ‘Delhi Chalo’ march, terming the attempt as Punjab’s 26/11 .
Today is Punjab’s 26/11. We are witnessing the end of the right to democratic protest. @Akali_Dal condemns the Haryana govt & Centre for choosing to repress the peaceful farmer movement, said Mr. Badal in a tweet.
Haryana has completely sealed its borders with Punjab to prevent farmers from entering the state for their onward march to Delhi to protest against the Centre’s farm laws.
The SAD chief also lashed out at the BJP-led government in Haryana for using water cannons against farmers on the Punjab-Haryana border.
The battle for the rights of Punjab farmers cannot be throttled by using water cannons against them. Our resolve will only strengthen further, he said.
-PTI
50,000 farmers to reach Delhi's borders by nightfall tonight, says farmers alliance Samyukt Kisan Morcha
Leaders of the farmers alliance, Samyukt Kisan Morcha, say they expect 50,000 farmers to reach Delhi's borders by nightfall tonight, as large numbers have already crossed Kurukshetra.
Earlier in the day, All India Kisan Sabha leader Krishna Prasad was detained at Jantar Mantar by the Delhi police and is being held at Mandir Marg police station, according to the farmers group.
A small group of farmers from Haryana were also taken away in buses from Jantar Mantar.
All India Kisan Sabha leader Krishna Prasad was detained by the Delhi police at Jantar Mantar earlier in the day.
Security beefed up in Delhi’s bordering areas, vehicles being checked
Delhi Police personnel have been deployed in large numbers in the border areas of the national capital on Thursday and all incoming vehicles were being checked in view of the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march by Punjab farmers against the Centre’s farm laws.
Five sand-laden trucks have been stationed at Singhu border to stop tractors being driven by the protesters. Also, drones have been deployed for security purposes, police said.
While clarifying that the borders have not been sealed, officials said all pickets have been made active, while all vehicles entering the national capital were being checked.
Delhi Police Commissioner S. N. Shrivastava visited the bordering areas and took stalk of the situation there.
'Stop inciting innocent farmers': Manohar Lal Khattar to Amarinder Singh
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar tags Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh in a tweet asking him to "please stop inciting innocent farmers." In a series of tweets, Mr. Lal accuses Mr. Singh of spreading lies and propaganda and ask him not to play cheap politics during the time of pandemic.
A group of around 20 farmers gathered near Majnu Ka Tila to stage protest have been detained, said Anto Alphonse, DCP, Delhi (North).
Amarinder Singh slams Khattar govt. for stopping farmers marching towards Delhi
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Thursday lashed out at the BJP-led government in Haryana for stopping farmers from moving towards Delhi, saying the use of “brute force” against them is totally undemocratic and unconstitutional .
Haryana has completely sealed its borders with Punjab to prevent farmers from entering the state for their ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest march against the Centre’s farm laws.
Why is @mlkhattar govt in Haryana stopping the farmers from moving to Delhi? The tyrannical use of brute force against peacefully protesting farmers is totally undemocratic & unconstitutional, said Mr. Singh in a tweet.
He said farmers have been peacefully protesting in Punjab against the farm laws for two months.
Absolutely wrong to prevent farmers from holding peaceful demonstrations: Kejriwal
It is absolutely wrong that farmers are being prevented from holding peaceful demonstrations against the Centre’s new farm laws and water cannons are being used on them, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Thursday.
Taking to Twitter, the Delhi Chief Minister said peaceful demonstration was a constitutional right of the farmers.
“All the three farming bills of the central government are anti-farmer. Instead of withdrawing them, farmers are being prevented from holding peaceful demonstrations, water canons are being used on them. This is absolutely wrong. Peaceful demonstrations are their constitutional right,” he said in a tweet in Hindi.
The Haryana government on Thursday completely sealed its borders with Punjab. Police personnel have been deployed in large numbers along the state’s borders with Delhi as well.
- PTI
Haryana police use teargas, water cannons to block farmers from going to Delhi
Haryana Police on Thursday resorted to use of tear gas and water canon to disperse farmers, while they attempted to enter the State by pushing away police barricades as part of their ‘Delhi Chalo’ march against the Centre’s agriculture laws.
Sultan Singh, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Ambala, told The Hindu that situation at Shambhu inter state border with Punjab was under control. "We had to use water canon and tear gas to disperse group of farmers and control the situation after they jumped and pushed away barricades," he said.
Trade union leaders urge protesters at Jantar Mantar to disperse
Leaders of trade unions are now urging protesters at Jantar Mantar to disperse. Only about ten activists from Students Federation of India have been detained by police at Jantar Mantar. Other protestors have dispersed.
Yogendra Yadav among dozen of farmer leaders detained in Gurugram
Swaraj India national president Yogendra Yadav taken into preventive custody along with a dozen farmer leaders in Gurugram's Rathiwas village.
Swaraj India national president Yogendra Yadav being taken into preventive custody in Gurugram's Rathiwas village.
Vigil stepped up in bordering areas of Delhi
The Delhi Police on Thursday strengthened its presence in border areas of the national capital in view of the ‘Delhi chalo’ protest march by farmers against the Centre’s new farm laws.
At the Singhu border, the Delhi Police stationed trucks filled with sand to stop movement of tractors driven by farmers, police said.
This is the first time that the city police has stationed trucks filled with sand at border points.
Police said the border has not been sealed but they are checking all vehicles entering the national capital.
“We have deployed heavy force at the bordering areas of the district. Eight companies of paramilitary will be assisting police at the borders,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (southeast) R. P. Meena had said.
Delhi Police bring buses into Jantar Mantar protest area, and begin detaining protestors.
Haryana seals borders with Punjab as farmers assemble for ‘Delhi Chalo’ march
Haryana on Thursday completely sealed its borders with Punjab as farmers from the neighbouring state started assembling in large numbers as part of their ‘Delhi Chalo’ march to protest the Centre’s new farm laws.
There was heavy deployment of Haryana police on the borders with Punjab, officials said.
The Haryana Police in adequate strength has also been deployed along the state’s borders with Delhi, they said.
The BJP government in Haryana had said that it would seal its borders with Punjab on November 26-27 in view of the farmers’ march to Delhi.
