Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Dec 14: The protesting farmers suspended their march to Delhi on Saturday afternoon after 17 of the marchers sustained injuries as Haryana police resorted to the use of tear gas and water cannon to disperse farmers and farm-labourers groups when they attempted to enter Haryana at the Shambhu-Ambala interstate boundary of Punjab and Haryana as a part of their Delhi Chalo foot march in support of their demands.
The foot march to Delhi organised by Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and Kisan Mukti Morcha was called off. At least 17 farmers were injured in the tear gas shelling and taken to a nearby hospital in ambulances stationed at the protest site. It was the third attempt by the protesting farmers to march towards the national capital since December 6.
Later they have announced a tractor march on December 16 and “rail roko” protest in Punjab on December 18. Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said, “On December 16, a tractor march will be organised outside Punjab, and on December 18th, we have called ‘Rail Roko’ in Punjab. We appeal to all Punjabis to participate in “Rail Roko’ in large numbers… The opposition should not run away from their role by just giving a statement.”
Earlier in the day, the protesting farmers resumed their march, their third attempt to enter the capital stating that they had not received any invitation from the Union Government for talks on a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP) and other agrarian demands.
A group of 101 farmers led the march from the Delhi-Haryana Shambhu border towards the national capital amid heightened security arrangements at the place. As the farmers’ group attempted to make their way by pushing and throwing away the multi-layer barricades, Haryana police resorted to tear gas shelling.
Group of farmers under the banner of the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) and Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) — the two umbrella bodies that are spearheading farmer’s agitation in Punjab have been, since February 13, camping at Shambhu-Ambala and Khanauri-Jind – the interstate boundaries between Haryana and Punjab, after being stopped from entering Haryana. They had been attempting to march to New Delhi to press for fulfilment of their demands, a legal guarantee for purchasing their crops at a Minimum Support Price and a farm loan waiver are among the key ones.
Mr Pandher said more than a dozen demonstrating farmers have sustained injuries, after which, the foot march for the day was suspended. He alleged that police used ‘chemical mixed water’ through cannons to target farmers. Rajat Gulia, the Deputy Superintendent of Police of Ambala cantonment though dismissed the allegation.
“The government used force on the group of 101 farmers, who were marching peacefully. Even the Opposition parties are not raising our concerns in the ongoing session of the Parliament. On December 16, we will hold tractor-march outside Punjab across the country. And on December 18 we will block railway tracks in Punjab,” Mr Pandher said.
“The government should explain how 101 farmers marching on foot can pose a threat. Despite objections, we will continue our peaceful protest,” Mr Pandher said, “Every hour, 2-3 farmers or labourers are committing suicide. We cannot leave them in this state. If the Modi government wants our lives, we are prepared, but we demand the resolution of farmers’ issues. Our fight is for justice, and if sacrifices are needed, we are ready,” he added.
The protest march comes in the wake of the deteriorating health conditions of Punjab farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has kept fast-unto-death, which entered its eighteenth day on Saturday. He launched a hunger strike at the Khanauri border on November 26, demanding the Union government to accept farmers’ demands, including a legal guarantee of Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops.
“Our third group headed by Jaswinder Singh Longowal and Malkit Singh will proceed from here peacefully sharp at 12… We are receiving information from Khanauri that Jagjit Singh Dallewal is not keeping well. The whole country is worried about his health except for the PM and Home Minister,” Pandher said.
In view of the wake of the farmers’ protest march, internet services have been suspended in parts of Ambala, Haryana, from 6 am on December 14 to 11.59 pm on December 17, said officials. The internet services were also banned during the farmers’ protest held on December 6. They attempted to enter the national capital but were stopped by Haryana police through barricading and use of teargas shells.
