New Delhi, Protesting farmers from Punjab and Haryana resumed their ‘Delhi Chalo’ march to the Indian capital, after unsuccessful talks with the government, facing tear gas from law enforcement at the Shambhu border. The demonstrators, steadfast in their demands for agricultural reforms, encountered resistance as they attempted to proceed towards Delhi.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the escalation occurred as farmer leaders Jagjit Singh Dallewal and Sarwan Singh Pandher declared their intention to enter Haryana, en route to Delhi, leading to the deployment of tear gas by authorities. Despite the government’s fortifications, the farmers maintained that their protest remains peaceful, urging for either a resolution to their grievances or unhindered access to Delhi for peaceful demonstration.
The farmers, advocating for a legal guarantee on the minimum support price (MSP), debt forgiveness, and other key issues, resumed their march after pausing due to negotiations with the Indian government. The talks, which culminated on Monday night, were ultimately deemed unsatisfactory by the farmers, who described the government’s offer as inadequate. The protest is led by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, highlighting longstanding discontent within the agricultural community.
Participants faced significant obstacles, including tear gas from drones, concrete barricades, and pellet gunfire, marking a continuation of the confrontational tactics employed during the year-long movement. This movement previously compelled the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to retract three controversial farm laws.
In anticipation of the renewed protests, security measures in and around Delhi were intensified, with a particular focus on key protest sites and border crossings. Delhi Police have enacted prohibitory orders across the city to mitigate the impact of the demonstrations.
The farmers’ unwavering return to protest underscores the deep-seated issues within India’s agricultural sector and the growing tension between the government and the farming community over the future of farming in the country.