New Delhi, In a determined push for their demands, thousands of farmers resumed their march towards the Indian capital today, facing tear gas shelling and clashes with police at the Punjab-Haryana border. This action follows a day of tumult on Tuesday, with farmers undeterred by the substantial barriers placed in their way by authorities.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the scene at Shambhu on the Punjab-Haryana border was marked by hundreds of tractor trolleys lined up as part of the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march. Despite the deployment of large numbers of Indian forces, concrete barricades, and even dug-up roads intended to halt their progress, the farmers pressed on. Indian police responded with tear gas for the second consecutive day in an effort to prevent the protesters from breaching the barricades.
The impact of the farmers’ march extended far beyond the immediate area of protest, with expressways in Delhi and its surrounding towns heavily congested for the second day in a row. Traffic restrictions and extensive police barricading have severely hampered vehicle movement, causing widespread disruption.
As the farmers advanced closer to Delhi on Wednesday, police heightened security measures at the city’s borders, complicating the situation for commuters. In response to the ongoing protests, authorities in Haryana have announced an extension of the suspension of mobile internet services, bulk SMS, and dongle services for another 48 hours in several districts, including Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad, and Sirsa. Traffic movement has been especially affected at the Ghazipur border, where heavy barricading and increased security measures have been implemented.
The farmers, led by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, are marching in response to inconclusive negotiations with the government. Their core demands include the establishment of a law to guarantee Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for crops and the implementation of loan waivers.
This ongoing march and the government’s attempts to suppress it with force have spotlighted the deepening rift between India’s agricultural community and the authorities, underscoring the farmers’ resolve to have their voices heard and their demands met.