Delhi Chalo: Watch farmers forcibly remove cement barricade with tractors at Shambhu border

Delhi Chalo: Several farmers tried to enter Delhi on Tuesday by breaking barricades at the Punjab-Haryana Shambhu border. Police used tear gas to disperse the demonstrators. Meanwhile, several demonstrators were also arrested by the police.

New Delhi: A chaotic scene continued at the Punjab-Haryana Shambhu border as farmers started forcibly removing barricades with their tractors, attempting to enter Delhi on Tuesday as part of their Delhi Chalo protest. Police fired several tear gas canisters to disperse the protesters. Several farmers were arrested and their vehicles seized who tried to forcibly enter the border as the 'Dilli Chalo' march began amid heavy security.

#WATCH | Protesting farmers forcibly remove the cement barricade with their tractors while trying to cross the Haryana-Punjab Shambhu border. pic.twitter.com/gIyGNy8wsi

— ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2024

In particular, just over two years after farmers called off their protest on the doorstep of the capital. Kisans are once again heading to the national capital.

Delhi Chalo: Here are the demands of farmers and the steps taken by the Center on them

Other key points of the demands included the repeal of the Electricity Act 2020, withdrawal of cases against farmers' movement protesters and compensation for farmers killed in Lakhimpur Kheri. After negotiations continued past midnight and an agreement was reached on these issues, farmers remain resolute and insist that the promises made by the government two years ago have not been kept.

The meeting revealed the Centre's willingness to withdraw the cases against farmers filed during the mass agitation in 2020-21. However, the protesters are adhering to the legal guarantee for the Minimum Support Price (MSP), underscoring its importance as a cornerstone of their demands.

The leaders of the protesters, such as (non-political) Jagjit Singh Dallewal of Samyukta Kisan Morcha and Sarwan Singh Pandher of Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, expressed skepticism about the Centre's commitment to meeting key demands.

The central government proposes setting up a committee to deliberate on legal safeguards for the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations on implementation, MSP and debt waivers. However, the protesting side is still not convinced about the proposal.

The farmer leaders' demand covers a spectrum of issues, including withdrawal from the World Trade Organization, reintroduction of the Land Acquisition Act 2013 and compensation for farmer families killed during the previous protests.

As the 'Delhi Chalo' march gains momentum, security measures have been tightened at Singhu, Ghazipur and Tikri borders. Delhi Police has imposed stringent measures, including installing spikes and barricades and deploying cranes and earth-movers to block the roads. These efforts are aimed at preventing protesting vehicles from entering the city.

Farmers' demand

1. There should be a law for the minimum support price.
2. Implement the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission.
3. Farmers are also demanding farm loan waiver.
4. Compensation should be provided to the families of farmers involved in the Lakhimpur Kheri incident.
5. Farmers should be exempted from pollution laws.
6. Increase duties to reduce import duties on agricultural commodities, dairy products, fruits, vegetables and meat.
7. Implement a pension scheme for farmers above 58 years of age, providing them with a monthly pension of Rs 10,000.
8. Improve the quality of seeds for all crops, including cotton, by amending the Pesticides, Seeds and Fertilizers Act.
9. Implement the Land Acquisition Act, 2013 in the same manner. Cancel the directions given by the Central Government to the State Governments in this regard.
10. The government should pay the self-insurance premium for improvements to the Prime Minister's Crop Insurance Scheme, include all crops under the program and assess losses by considering one hectare of land as one unit.