New Delhi: Farmers from Punjab faced water cannons and broke police barriers at the state’s border with Haryana as they pushed towards the national capital Thursday on their "Delhi Chalo" march against the Centre's farm laws.
Thousands of farmers were marching towards Delhi, despite the Punjab-Haryana, Haryana-Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh-Delhi borders being partially or completely sealed with heavy security deployment.
While the Singhu border between Haryana and Delhi had drones, the Uttar Pradesh-Delhi border had trains and trucks filled with soil to stop the movement of farmers.
While farmers were on the way, some MLAs from Punjab reached Delhi on Thursday and protested against the Union Government. Four MLAs - Sukhpal Singh Khaira, Parminder Singh Dhindsa, Jagdev Singh Kammalu and Nirmal Singh Khalsa were detained by the Delhi Police.
"Stopping farmers at state borders and attacking them with water cannons, and tear gas is unconstitutional and undemocratic. We will support farmers in every way", said MLA Parminder Singh Dhindsa.
Read: Amarinder, Khattar trade blows as Haryana Police blocks protesting farmers
"Farmers were protesting in a peaceful manner for two months. The Union government stopped trains which affected supply of fertilisers and coal in the state. Farmers are now on road and we support their demands," said MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira.
The farmers' protest also fueled politics and a twitter spat between the Chief Ministers of Punjab and Haryana.
While Singh slammed Khattar for stopping farmers from moving towards the national capital, terming it as "totally undemocratic and unconstitutional", the latter told the Punjab chief minister to stop "inciting innocent farmers".
Meanwhile, Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal lashed out at the Haryana government for trying to stop the "Delhi Chalo" march by farmers, calling the attempt "Punjab's 26/11".
One of the oldest allies of BJP, Shiromani Akali also pulled out of NDA and Harsimrat Kaur Badal resigned from Union Cabinet as protest against farm acts.
It is pertinent to note that Assembly elections of Punjab are due in 2022 and all political parties except BJP are supporting farmers.
