Farmers Protest | Tension Escalates on Haryana-Punjab border; internet shutdown extended
New Delhi: As the 'Delhi Chalo' march by farmers entered its fourth day today, the farmers are observing a nationwide strike, 'Gramin Bharat Bandh' to protest against the Central government's policies.
Security also continues to be up on inter-state borders between Punjab and Haryana, with protesting farmers adamant about heading to the national capital for 'Delhi Chalo' march. Three Union Ministers held talks with the leaders of protesting farmers unions here on Thursday night, amid a standoff between the protesters and security personnel at two points on the Punjab-Haryana border.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also joined the meeting at the Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration in Sector 26 in Chandigarh. Union Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Minister Arjun Munda, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai represented the Centre at the meeting over the farmer unions' various demands, including a law guaranteeing a minimum support price (MSP) for crops.
This was the third round of talks between the two sides. The two previous rounds of dialogue on February 8 and 12 remained inconclusive. Among the farmer leaders taking part in the meeting were SKM (Non-Political) leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal and Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee general secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher.
Farmers from Punjab began their march to the national capital on Tuesday, but were stopped by security personnel at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana. The protesting farmers have been camping at the border points.
Here are the latest updates from the protest:
- 9.00 PM
The day-long rural India bandh, industrial and sectoral strike called by Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) and different trade unions against central government’s “anti-farmer and anti-people” policies on Friday evoked wide response. "The call of mass mobilisation all over India alongwith industrial and sectoral strike and grameen bandh received immense response. The reports are pouring in from all states. The nation witnessed rural India in action against anti farmer, anti-workers, anti-agricultural, anti-public sector policies of the Government working to the advantage of corporates of Indian and foreign brands," the central trade unions have said. - 5.00 PM
Punjab Roadways buses did not run on Friday in Ludhiana as the Punjab Roadways and PRTC Employees Union had also announced their support to the Bharat Grameen Bandh. The Ludhiana bus stand wore a deserted look. - 4.54 PM
The impact of Gramin Bharat Bandh was not seen in Punjab's Ludhiana. As usual, shops are open and children are also going to school. In Ludhiana, most of the schools are also open and shops, markets etc. are also running like normal days. - 4.37 PM
Union Minister Anurag Thakur told reporters in New Delhi, "Next day for discussion with farmers has been fixed on Sunday. "I am hopeful that the next discussion will take place in a positive environment and that we will move forward in solving these (farmers) issues. PM Modi has taken several steps for the farmers," added Anurag Thakur. - 3.56 PM
The Haryana Police on Friday fired tear gas shells to disperse protesting farmers when they moved towards the barricades at the Shambhu border near Ambala. The fresh confrontation comes on the fourth day of the farmers' 'Delhi Chalo' march to demand a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP) for crops. Protesting farmers from Punjab have stayed put at the Shambhu and Khanauri -- two points on the state's border with Haryana. There were clashes between the farmers and Haryana Police personnel on the first two days of the protest as well. - 3.53 PM
The Congress on Friday said the abolition of the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) Act by the Bihar government in 2006 is the "single most important reason" for the distress faced by the farmers in the state, as the party promised to provide justice to the tillers in the state. The assertion came after Rahul Gandhi along with RJD leader and former Bihar deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav interacted with farmers at a Kisan Mahapanchayat in Bihar's Kaimur district. In a post on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "The contrast between the Modi Government and @INCIndia has never been more evident. On one hand, the regime's first response to the voice of the people is to label them as anti-national, terrorist, etc. and tear-gas them with drones. On the other, Rahul Gandhi interacts with farmers as equals, hearing their grievances, and learning from their experiences." - 3.48 PM
The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Friday detained 50 trade union leaders and activists who were planning to hold a protest at Lal Chowk in Srinagar in support of the demands of agitating farmers. The protest was planned in response to the Samyukta Kisan Morcha's call for a 'Bharat Bandh' to press the government to accept the agitating farmers' demands, including a legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) for crops. The leaders and activists were detained by police near Pratap Park on Residency Road as they were assembling for protests and taken to Kothibagh police station, officials said. - 12.35 AM
A 63-year-old farmer, who was among the farmers protesting at the Shambhu border near Haryana's Ambala, died of a heart attack on Friday. Gian Singh complained of chest pain in the morning and was taken to the Civil Hospital in Punjab's Rajpura. From there, he was rushed to Rajindra Hospital in Patiala, where doctors declared him brought dead. - 10.35 AM
Delhi Police is on high alert and security has been tightened in the national capital in view of the 'Bharat Bandh' call given by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), officials said on Friday. - 10.15 AM
Commuters in Punjab faced inconvenience on Friday as many buses stayed off the roads in response to the Samyukta Kisan Morcha's call for a 'Bharat Bandh' to press the government to accept farmers' demands including a legal guarantee of MSP. - 9.30 AM
The General Secretary of Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, Sarwan Singh Pandher on Friday urged an intervention on part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address the farmers issues adding that they would like to solve the issues 'amicably'. - 9.10 AM
Protesting farmers will stay put at the two borders of Punjab and Haryana over their various demands as the deadlock persisted despite the third round of talks with a panel of Union ministers. Read More - 8.45 AM
The farmers' leaders, who held talks with the union ministers for more than five hours on Thursday night, have expressed their concerns over actions by the forces on the agitating cultivators and said that they do not seek 'confrontation but a peaceful solution'. Read More - 8.05 AM
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday said that he has requested the Centre to direct the Haryana government to 'maintain peace' in border areas in view of the farmers' 'Delhi Chalo' agitation. - 7.30 AM
Amid farmer unions call for a Bharat Bandh protest today (February 16), traders are poised to continue their business operations uninterrupted, reaffirming their "commitment to serving communities and maintaining economic stability." - 6.45 AM
Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait said, "We have spoken about 'Gramin Bharat Bandh' - that farmers do not go to their farms tomorrow. This will send a big message tomorrow. This agitation has a new ideology, a new method. Highways will not be shut. But meetings will continue at our meeting points and we will take decisions there. Monthly panchayat will take place in Sisauli on 17th February. We do have the demand on MSP but a strategy will have to be built on incidents that are taking place in Punjab and Haryana - we hope for this. We have told not to gather as a crowd for it. As far as the Bandh is concerned, we have urged people to participate voluntarily..." - 6.15 AM
A marathon meeting between three Union ministers and leaders of protesting farmer unions concluded without a resolution here late Thursday with Union Minister Arjun Munda asserting that the discussion was "positive and another round of talks would be held on Sunday. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Munda said the talks took place in a good atmosphere and there was positive discussion. The talks will continue and another meeting will take place at 6 pm on Sunday, he said, adding that a solution will be found by sitting together.
Read More
