As a large group of farmer leaders head towards the national capital on Tuesday, February 13, the police and administration have amped up security in border areas of Delhi and Haryana has even imposed Section 144 in several bordering districts of the state.
Ghazipur, Tikri, and Shambhu borders have been barricaded and barbed wires have also been installed to stop people and vehicles, from entering the national capital. Section 144 has also been imposed in the region prohibiting the entry of tractor-trolleys, as well as banning large gatherings.
Traffic advisory was also issued to deviate general traffic intended for the route being barricaded. On Monday, Delhi Police issued the order to impose a month-long curfew. The order said, “There exists a well-founded apprehension/possibility that the participants may try to enter into the territory of Delhi from various entry points along its borders with adjoining states to reach New Delhi and to hold demonstrations to assert their demands. There is an imminent risk of widespread tension, public nuisance, public annoyance, social unrest and the potential for violence on account of the participants of the march.”
“There is a likelihood that some anti-social elements/agitator groups may take advantage of the situation and indulge in activities prejudicial to the maintenance of peace, public order as well as law & order. More particularly taking into consideration the past experience of farmer agitation organized in 2020 and valuable inputs of large-scale serious law & order problem, received from intelligence agencies,” it added. The order also mentioned that no permission was granted for the march and the legal steps are being taken to ensure public safety, tranquility and public order in Delhi.
The group leading the nationwide march to Delhi is Sanyukt Kisa Morcha and they demand a guaranteed minimum support price (MSP) for their crops. The Morcha also claimed that more than two hundred farmer organizations from across the country have joined the march.
The march began after the talks between representatives of farmers and the government concluded on a futile note. Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee coordinator Sarwan Singh Pandher and Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) convenor Jagjit Singh Dallewal met Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda and other officials from the ministry. Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal was also present in the meeting held in Chandigarh.
After the meeting, the farmer leaders said that the government made no fresh proposals and were indecisive even after such a long time. They added that the indecisiveness leaves them with no option but to conduct the march and stage a dharna. While minister Munda claimed they reached consensus on a few issues during the meeting, the farmer leaders denied any consensus.
Meanwhile, another farmer organization – All India Kisan Sabha – has called for a bandh on February 16, Friday. Labelling it as Gramin Bharat Bandh, the group has demanded withdrawal of all cases against participants of the farmers’ protest and also sought rehabilitation and compensation for those who died in the protests.