A large ‘Delhi Chalo’ march including over 200 farmers’ unions has been declared by the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha and Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political). The march is set for February 13.
The motive of the march is to put more pressure on the national government to acquiesce to demands, such as passing legislation securing a minimum support price (MSP) for crops. Significant administrative and security actions have been triggered by this mobilisation, including the implementation of Section 144 in Panchkula and the suspension of bulk SMS and mobile internet services in a number of Haryanan districts.
Here are the latest developments from the area:
1. According to Panchkula DCP Sumer Singh Pratap, the police have invoked Section 144, which forbids processions, protests, and the carrying of weapons in Panchkula.
2. In anticipation of the scheduled ‘Delhi Chalo’ march, extensive preparations are in place to close the Punjab-Haryana borders in the districts of Ambala, Jind, and Fatehabad.
3. Due to expected interruptions, the Haryana Police has released a traffic advisory advising commuters to minimise their use of major roadways on February 13. To lessen possible traffic congestion, alternate routes have been recommended for commuters going between Chandigarh and Delhi.
4. In seven districts of Haryana, mobile internet services and bulk SMS have been discontinued in an effort to curb the dissemination of false information and preserve public order.
5. Senior police officers have inspected border crossings to evaluate security measures, including the DGP of Haryana and the SP of Ambala.
6. At the border with Shambhu, concrete barriers and road restrictions have been installed, and the Ghaggar riverbed has been excavated to make passage more difficult.
7. Heavy traffic jams and interruptions to usual commutes are expected, especially for those travelling through the Shambhu border towards Ambala.
8. Notwithstanding efforts by the authorities to dissuade them, farmers are preparing for the march by gathering necessary supplies and preparing their tractor trolleys.
9. The scheduled ‘Delhi Chalo’ march is still going forward, despite recent meetings between Union ministers and farmer leaders. This shows how persistent the farmers’ demands are for the MSP guarantee and other concessions.
10. Sarwan Singh Pandher, a prominent farmer, said on Saturday that meetings involving Union ministers Piyush Goyal, Arjun Munda, and Nityanand Rai will take place in Chandigarh on February 12.
