Haryana sealed the borders with Punjab on November 26 and 27
Chandigarh:
Thousands of congressionally led Punjab farmers are gathering at the Haryana border for their march to Delhi on Thursday morning, ready for any confrontation with BJP-ruled state-deployed security personnel, who are determined to stop them. There is likely to be a clash with farmers from five states (Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Kerala and Punjab) planning a march to Delhi today and tomorrow. The Delhi government has refused to allow any demonstrations in the city, citing the coronavirus outbreak. Large border security arrangements have been made with Delhi at Gurugram and Faridabad.
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Haryana has sealed the borders with Punjab today and tomorrow after the orders of Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. Massive security arrangements, with barricades, water cannons and riot control vehicles, have been made on the roads of Punjab to thwart the protest march. Banning orders have been imposed in the state banning large gatherings.
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Haryana also suspended bus service to and from Punjab for the next two days and diverted all traffic from blocked roads.
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Punjab farmers camped on the Haryana border for the night. They said they will hold a sit-in protest wherever they are detained by the neighboring state. The Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta-Ugrahan) has claimed that more than two lakh farmers associated with it will enter Haryana.
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Farmers have brought rations, vegetables, firewood and other essentials for the march. In view of the cold weather, they have also stocked duvets, blankets and covered their carts with tarps. “We are ready for battle, which can last a long time,” said BKU (Ekta-Ugarhan) Secretary General Sukhdev Singh Kokrikalan. Farmers have said they will not return until the matter is resolved.
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On Wednesday, Haryana was unable to prevent her own farmers from marching to Delhi. Breaking through barricades and water cannons, thousands are traversing the state, stopping at Karnal and Sonipat for the night. They plan to resume their journey tomorrow.
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The Uttar Pradesh authorities detained near Agra a convoy of farmers and anti-farm law protesters traveling from Madhya Pradesh to Delhi, led by activist Medha Patkar. Medha Patkar has been arrested.
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Delhi is carrying out its own security arrangements, deploying forces at the borders, with a special focus on the Ghazipur border, the Chilla border and DND. Eight paramilitary companies will be stationed at the borders and Metro services will be reduced as a precautionary measure.
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Delhi police tweeted early Wednesday saying that all applications received from various farmers’ organizations have been rejected and this has already been communicated to the organizers. “Please cooperate with the Delhi Police to ensure that there are no gatherings in Delhi amid the coronavirus, otherwise legal action will be taken under the law,” his tweet read.
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In a series of tweets, Akali Dal’s boss Sukhbir Singh Badal recorded his protest. “By preventing Punjabi farmers from peacefully exercising democratic rights, the center is repeating in 1980 when Akalis were prevented from entering Delhi to protest,” its publication read. The Prime Minister’s Office, he said, must step in “to ensure that this is stopped immediately and that the Annadatas are not harassed or humiliated.”
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The center called on farmers, who want a repeal of farm laws, for a second round of negotiations on December 3. the farmers have decided to do their part with the great protest march. The protest is supported by some 500 farmers’ organizations.
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