Farmers Protest Water Cannons and Tear Gas Shells: Key Points | India News

NEW DELHI: With nightly rains and freezing winds, thousands of protesting farmers gathered Thursday at various locations along Punjab’s Haryana borders to demand the repeal of new farm laws passed by Parliament in September. Farmers encountered heavy security at various entry points into the capital, sparking fights with the police.
Here’s a look at the main developments of the day:
Punjab farmers face water cannons and break through the Haryana barricades
Punjab farmers faced water cannons and broke through police barriers at the state border with Haryana as they advanced towards the national capital on their “Delhi Chalo” march.
Late at night, large numbers of protesters from Punjab and Haryana were near Delhi, where a police force was also deployed at the border points.
The borders of the national capital were not sealed but barricades and cement blocks were placed to stop the protesters’ trucks and tractors. A large contingent of paramilitary forces was deployed along with various points on the Delhi border to prevent farmers from entering the capital.
Live updates: farmers protest
Distressing day for travelers
It was a harrowing day for those traveling from Delhi to the cities of NCR. There were traffic jams during the day at the Delhi border with police checking vehicles coming from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
Delhi metro services from neighboring NCR cities to the national capital have been suspended in view of the farmers protestofficials said. However, metro services will be available from Delhi to sections of the National Capital Region (NCR).

Enhanced border security
A heavy deployment was made at the Faridabad, Singhu and Gurgaon border crossings with Haryana. The vehicles were searched at the DND and National Highway-24 junctions with Uttar Pradesh.
In Singhu, on the Haryana border with the capital, Delhi police had parked five trucks loaded with sand to stop the tractor cars. Drones were also deployed.
Police were also deployed on the Delhi border with Faridabad and Gurgaon.

Before the protest, Haryana had announced to seal its borders with Punjab to prevent farmers from entering the state on their way to Delhi.
The Delhi police also made it clear that they had denied permission to farmers’ organizations planning to protest in the capital on November 26 and 27.
CMs from Haryana, Punjab exchange quills
Punjab Prime Minister Amarinder Singh and his Haryana counterpart Manohar Lal Khattar engaged in a war of words on Thursday over the farmers’ protest march.
While Singh criticized Khattar for preventing farmers from advancing towards the national capital, calling it “totally undemocratic and unconstitutional”, the latter told Punjab’s chief minister to stop “inciting innocent farmers”.
The Punjab prime minister said it was a “sad irony” that the constitutional right of farmers was being “oppressed” on Constitution Day.
He also called on the BJP to instruct the Khattar-led government not to indulge in “heavy-handed tactics” against farmers.
Shortly after Singh attacked him, Khattar sternly told Punjab’s chief minister to stop “inciting innocent farmers.” Khattar asked Singh to desist from misleading farmers, noting that he has already pledged to abandon the policy if the Minimum Support Price mechanism is ever dismantled.
Opposition leaders criticize the police action
Besdies Amarinder, leaders such as the Secretary General of Congress Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Delhi’s Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal condemned the action of the Haryana police on the Shambhu border.
At Gurugram, the president of Swaraj India, Yogendra Yadav, and a group of protesters were stopped by the police as they tried to march towards Delhi.
Left-wing parties said the use of water cannons revealed the “anti-farmer face” of the saffron party.
“This is an attack on farmers by the BJP government. The CPI has always supported farmers and the violence against them is highly reprehensible. This shows the true anti-farmer face of the BJP,” said the CPI general secretary D Raja.
Today is 11/26 Punjab: SAD chief
Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal criticized the Haryana government for trying to thwart the “Delhi Chalo” farmers’ march, calling the attempt “11/26 Punjab”.
Bathinda MP and former Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal also condemned the Haryana government for preventing farmers from entering Haryana, saying it is a “murder of democracy”.

“Today is 11/26 Punjab. We are witnessing the end of the right to democratic protest. @Akali_Dal condemns the government and the Haryana Center for choosing to suppress the peaceful peasant movement, ”Badal said in a tweet.
Air India offers free rescheduling of travelers
Air India offered a free one-time rescheduling to passengers who were unable to take their flights due to border closures.
IndiGo and Vistara said they will also take appropriate action for passengers who were unable to arrive at IGI airport in time for Thursday’s flights.