Vivek Gupta 
Chandigarh: A group of 101 farmers who were trying to march to Delhi from the Shambhu point of the Ambala-Delhi Highway managed to overcome three layers of obstructions, including mesh wires, on Friday (December 6) but were ultimately stopped by the concrete barricades erected by security forces and their use of tear gas.
Four farmers have reportedly been injured at the border.
While the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha and the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) called back the group of farmers following the action taken against them, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher announced that another group of 101 farmers would march towards Delhi on December 8 at noon unless farmer leaders are invited to talks with the Union government.
Pandher said security forces’ action against the protesting farmers on Friday exposed the BJP-led Union and Haryana governments’ intentions.
“Despite farmers being unarmed, the Haryana police fired tear gas shells at them, injuring several farmers. Two are seriously injured and currently admitted to a government hospital in Rajpura [in Punjab],” he said.
But he added that despite today’s events, farmers would continue protesting peacefully.
Protesting farmers have reserved Saturday for potential talks with the Union government, but if they do not receive a proposal for talks, another group of farmers will begin marching to Delhi on Sunday, Pandher said. “Farmers do not want a confrontation with the government, we will remain peaceful.”
Pandher also called for a peaceful protest against BJP state leaders in Punjab and to question them about their ‘lack of action’ against the Union government.
Farmers, holding the tricolour, have been appealing to police personnel on the Haryana side for passage to Delhi. They have also repeatedly claimed that their march will be peaceful.
Internet services have meanwhile been suspended in areas of Haryana’s Ambala district from Friday till December 9.
The BJP-led Haryana government has additionally deployed water cannon machines along the Ambala-Delhi highway at the Shambhu border point.
Legalising minimum support price for crops has been the farmers’ key demand, which has been a contentious issue between them and the Union government for some time now.
Farmers claimed that the Modi government had promised legal guarantees for MSP at the time of the withdrawal of three farm laws in November 2021 after year-long protests outside Delhi but did not fulfil its promise.
Photo: By arrangement.
An earlier attempt by Punjab farmers to move towards Delhi in February this year was met with stiff resistance from Haryana authorities, leaving one farmer dead and scores injured.
Since then, farmers have continued to camp at the Punjab-Haryana border at Shambhu and Khanauri, adamant on their demand to march to Delhi to protest against the Union government.
From Shambhu, protesting farmers are again making a fresh attempt today to pass through heavy security deployed by Haryana.
They claimed that they have no option but to revive their protest in Delhi on the lines of the historic protest in 2020-21.
Situation tense at Shambhu
The current situation at Shambhu is tense as Haryana authorities have used tear gas on farmers after having advised them to cancel their march as they had no clearance from the Delhi police to protest in the national capital.
But the farmers are adamant, saying they are ready to move ahead with a peaceful protest irrespective of the consequences.
Pandher during a press conference on December 5 accused the BJP-led Union and Haryana governments of treating farmers like enemies of the state.
Photo: By arrangement.
“This does not look like a Punjab-Haryana border but an international [border]. If they [the authorities] have their way, they will not even allow a bird to cross the border. They are treating us like we are enemies from some other country, whereas we are citizens of this land who want to peacefully march to the national capital to press our demands,” he said.
He added that if the Haryana government uses forces to stop the protest, “it will only expose the government”.
“They have deployed Central forces, drones or water cannons … it shows their intent is to stop us,” he added.
Ambala deputy commissioner Parth Gupta also issued late-night orders to close all government and private schools on December 6.
Prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, restricting gatherings of five or more people, remain in effect in Ambala until further notice.
Opposition extends support
The ruling Aam Aadmi Party in Punjab as well as several political parties opposed to the BJP government, including the Congress, extended their support to the farmers’ demands.
The recent statement from Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar questioning the unfulfilled promises made to farmers and seeking accountability from the Union agriculture minister during a function in Delhi further boosted the farmers’ protest.
Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav also told reporters that the government should accept the demands of the farmers and hold talks with them.
In a post on X, Congress MP and general secretary Jairam Ramesh said that the “protests received a huge booster dose from no less a person than the Vice President and Hon’ble Chairman of the Rajya Sabha himself”.