Farmers protest: tear gas, stones fly as chaos reigns at Shambhu border; Conversations with Centrum on Sunday
On the fourth day of the farmers' 'Delhi Chalo' march, called by the farmer unions, the agitators clashed with Haryana police at the Shambhu border as they tried to move towards Delhi.
Farmers protest: The Shambhu border near Ambala resembled a war zone as protesting farmers destroyed barricades and hurled stones at Haryana police, who responded with tear smoke grenades and rubber bullets to disperse the agitators stationed at the border and trying to disperse the national capital Delhi to march in to put pressure on the government. to accept their demands.
Someone said “Taliban aaya”..#FarmersProtest pic.twitter.com/GAz9lYzuGI
— Eminent intellectual (@total_woke_) February 16, 2024
Footage shared by Haryana Police on social media showed protesters throwing stones at security personnel and trying to march towards the barricades. However, the farmers were stopped by the police personnel who used anti-riot measures, including tear gas shells, to push them back.
I think I did well I think I did well I think I did well I think I did well I think I did well । @ssk303 @cmohry @anilvijminister @DGPHaryana pic.twitter.com/fn4O6kk86F
— Haryana Police (@police_haryana) February 16, 2024
The chaos broke out a day after inconclusive talks between Union ministers and farmer leaders remained inconclusive. A new round of talks between the two parties is scheduled for Sunday.
On the fourth day of the farmers' 'Delhi Chalo' march, called by the farmer unions, the agitators clashed with police at the Shambhu border as they tried to move towards Delhi.
The 'Dilli Chalo' march has been called by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, to put pressure on the government to accept their demands, including a legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) for crops.
'Ruckus' cannot be allowed
In a series of videos shared by the Haryana Police on their X-handle, the protesting farmers can be seen throwing stones in an alleged attempt to 'provoke' the police manning the Shambhu border.
I think I did a good job I think I did a good job I think I did a good job I think it's a good thing I think it's a good choice. I think it's good @ssk303@cmohry@anilvijminister pic.twitter.com/S7mqKRtk8C
— Haryana Police (@police_haryana) February 16, 2024
Haryana Police went to X and claimed that “ruckus” cannot be allowed under the guise of farmers' movement. They said 25 security personnel – 18 from Haryana Police and seven paramilitary jawans – were injured in these clashes.
One of the videos showed many young protesters with their faces covered throwing stones at security personnel. In another video, protesters were seen collecting rocks to throw at security personnel.
I think I did well I think I did well I think I did well From 18 to 07 to 25 to 25 years old @police_haryana @DGPHaryana @AdgpAmbalaRange pic.twitter.com/RaXLDaVkKJ
— Ambala Police (@AmbalaPolice) February 15, 2024
Farmer leaders condemn the police action
Meanwhile, farmer leaders spearheading the 'Delhi Chalo' call alleged that Haryana security personnel used 'force' against protesters by throwing tear gas shells and firing rubber bullets at them, injuring many.
Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher accused the Center of 'suppressing' the voices of the protesters and alleged that the social media accounts of farmers and YouTubers have been suspended.
The farmers from Punjab started their march towards Delhi on Tuesday but were stopped by security personnel at Shambhu and Khanauri points on Punjab's border with Haryana. The protesters have remained at the two border points since then.
Protester dies of heart attack
On the fourth day of the protest, a 63-year-old farmer, who was among the demonstrators at the Shambhu border, died of a heart attack on Friday.
According to officials, Gian Singh, from Gurdaspur district of Punjab, complained of chest pain in the morning and was taken to Civil Hospital in Rajpura of Punjab. From there, he was rushed to Rajindra Hospital in Patiala where doctors declared him brought dead.
Government 'suppresses' the voice of farmers
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Pandher said that during the meeting with Union ministers a day ago, we “raised the issue of suspension of internet and Twitter (now X) handles of farmer leaders”.
Also claiming that the government has suspended the accounts of around 70 YouTubers who showed the farmers' protest, he said it seems like “the government wants to suppress our voice.”
Pandher said that during the talks they raised the issue of use of 'force' against farmers by the paramilitary personnel who fired tear gas shells at the protesters. He claimed that around 70 farmers have suffered serious injuries.
He said the talks with the Union ministers were held in a positive atmosphere and various demands of the protesters, including a law on MSP and debt waiver, were discussed.
The government said they wanted to continue talks, Pandher said, adding that their 'Delhi Chalo' call still stood and the protesters remained at the Punjab-Haryana border so that a solution could emerge through talks.
On Thursday, during the meeting with ministers, Pandher said they had raised the issue of teargas shelling by the paramilitary forces on farmers at the Shambhu and Khanuri border points. He said they showed the grenades to ministers during the meeting.
Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal demanded the release of farmers arrested or detained by Haryana Police.
Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Arjun Munda, Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai represented the Center at Thursday's meeting. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema also participated in the meeting.
After the five-hour talks on Thursday evening, Munda said: “We will find a solution by sitting together.”
'Bharat Bandh'
Meanwhile, farmers loyal to different factions held demonstrations at various places in Punjab and Haryana in response to a call for a 'Bharat Bandh' by a farmers' organisation, causing inconvenience to commuters.
While there was a partial response to the bandh in Haryana, markets and commercial establishments remained closed at several places in Punjab. Protesters blocked national highways in Pathankot, Tarn Taran, Bathinda and Jalandhar in Punjab. They also besieged several toll plazas in both states.
In Haryana's Hisar, bus services on national highways remained paralyzed as Haryana Roadways staff supported the call for 'Bharat Bandh'. Punjab Roadways, Punbus and PRTC Contract Workers' Union also supported the bandh call, while private operators did not operate buses.
Besides a legal guarantee of MSP, the farmers are demanding implementation of Swaminathan Commission recommendations, pension for farmers and farm laborers, waiver of farm debts, no increase in electricity tariff, withdrawal of police cases and “justice” for the victims of the disaster of 2021. Lakhimpur Kheri violence, reintroduction of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, and compensation for the families of the farmers killed during an earlier unrest in 2020-2021.
(With PTI inputs)