Farmers Resume 'Dilli Chalo' March From Shambhu Border; Police Use Water Cannons To Disperse Protesters

A group of 101 farmers resumed their foot march to Delhi today from the Shambhu border but were soon stopped by police using water cannons.

Shambhu:A group of farmers resumed their 'Dilli Chalo' protest march from the Shambhu border located on the Punjab and Haryana border at noon today (Dec 14, 2024) but shortly after police used water cannons to thwart their protest.

A 'jatha' of 101 farmers resumed their march to press the Centre for various demands including a legal guarantee for minimum support price. Visuals from the spot showed security officials using water cannons on the farmers trying to march towards the national capital. Police have installed metal barricades on the roads near the border to stop the protesting farmers.

Besides MSP, the farmers are also demanding a farm debt waiver, pension for farmers and farm labourers, no hike in electricity tariff, withdrawal of police cases (against farmers), and "justice" for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence.

Reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013 and compensation to the families of farmers who died during the previous agitation in 2020-21 are also part of their demands.

Earlier on December 8, the protesting farmers had to suspended the foot march after some of them suffered injuries in tear gas shelling by Haryana security personnel. Similar scenes were witnessed on December 6 as well when the farmers had to suspend the march after injuries to their colleagues in tear gas shelling.

Internet suspended

Hours before the protest march began, the Haryana government suspended mobile internet and bulk SMS services in 12 villages within the Ambala district on Saturday. According to an order issued by Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Sumita Misra, the suspension will remain in effect until December 17.

"It has been brought to my notice by the additional director general of police, CID, Haryana and deputy commissioner, Ambala that in view of the call for Delhi Kooch given by certain farmers' organisations, there is an apprehension of causing tension, annoyance, agitation, damage of public and private property and disturbance of public peace and tranquillity in the area of districts Ambala," the order said.

Misra said the order to suspend mobile internet in Dangdehri, Lehgarh, Manakpur, Dadiyana, Bari Ghel, Choti Ghel, Lharsa, Kalu Majra, Devi Nagar (Hira Nagar, Naresh Vihar), Saddopur, Sultanpur and Kakru villages in Ambala was issued to prevent any disturbance of peace and public order. The suspension shall be in force from 6 am on December 14 to 11.59 pm on December 17, it said.

BJP MP's controversial remarks

Meanwhile, BJP MP Ram Chander Jangra has alleged that 700 girls have been "missing" since the 2021 farmers protest at Singhu and Tikri borders between Haryana and Delhi. He also termed the protesters "drug addicts" who have now spread their network in Haryana.

Jangra said in Rohtak, Haryana, "In 2021, the drug addicts of Punjab who were sitting on protest at Singhu and Tikri borders have spread their network in Haryana. As per the CID report, the 700 girls from the nearby areas of Singhu and Tikri borders are missing and where are they, no one knows."

The farmers were protesting at Tikri and Singhu border for almost one year in 2021, against the Centre's now-repealed three farm laws.

Reacting strongly to Jangra's remarks, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher demanded an apology and accused him of trying to "divide communities."

"BJP MP Chander Jangra should apologise for the allegations he is making. BJP and their MPs are trying to increase riots in the country and want the communities to fight. I appeal the people to stand against the MP who wants to create differences between two communities by making such allegations. Modi government should dismissed this MP as soon as possible and I urge BJP President JP Nadda to expel him from the party," Pandher said.