Delhi Braces for Farmers’ March

by The_unmuteenglish

New Dehli, 6 December 24: Delhi Police ramped up security at border points on the eve of a planned farmers’ march to the National Capital, raising concerns about potential traffic disruptions in the city and its surrounding areas.

“Security arrangements have been strengthened at all entry points to Delhi, including a skeletal deployment at the Singhu border, which could increase depending on the situation at the Shambu border,” a senior police officer stated. The Shambu border, located along the Punjab-Haryana border, has emerged as a focal point for the protest.

Traffic is expected to be impacted, particularly at central Delhi and border areas. “We are also monitoring the Noida border closely, where farmers from Uttar Pradesh are staging a sit-in,” the officer added.

Farmers, primarily seeking a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP) on crops, have been stationed at the Shambu and Khanauri borders since earlier attempts to enter Delhi on February 13 and February 21 were thwarted by security forces. The protesters, operating under banners like the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, continue to camp at these sites.

On Wednesday, Haryana’s Ambala district administration urged farmers to reconsider their march and suggested seeking permission from Delhi Police before proceeding. “We have not received any formal request from the Punjab farmers to enter Delhi,” a Delhi Police spokesperson clarified.

In Ambala, authorities imposed Section 163 of the BNSS, prohibiting gatherings of five or more people, and issued notices at the Shambu protest site.

Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher revealed that a delegation met Ambala’s Superintendent of Police on Monday to notify authorities about their planned march on December 6. “We assured the police that the march would remain peaceful and traffic would not be disrupted along the route,” Pandher said.

Beyond the MSP issue, the farmers’ demands include debt waivers, pensions for farmers and laborers, and a rollback of proposed electricity tariff hikes. They are also pushing for “justice” for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence, reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act of 2013, and compensation for the families of farmers who lost their lives during the 2020-21 protests.

The protests underline the growing frustration among agricultural workers over unresolved grievances. Delhi remains on edge as farmers prepare to take their message to the nation’s capital.

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