Farmers' stir: Haryana deploys 50 companies of central forces ahead of 'Delhi Chalo' call
Fifty companies of central paramilitary forces, including the Rapid Action Force and the Central Reserve Police Force, have been deployed in Haryana in the run-up to the February 13 'Delhi Chalo' call by farmers.
Farmers protest: Ahead of the 'Delhi Chalo' march proposed by farmers on February 13, Haryana Police has deployed 50 companies of central paramilitary forces to maintain law and order in the state. Authorities asserted on Friday that no one should disturb peace and harmony.
Police have asked farmers not to participate in a planned march next week without permission and have also warned of stern action if they damage public property, they said.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha had announced a 'Delhi Chalo' march of over 200 farmer unions on February 13 to put pressure on the Center for accepting various demands, including introducing a law to create a minimum support price (MSP) for crops.
However, the SKM, which had spearheaded the farmers' revolt against the now repealed farm laws in 2020, was not part of the 'Delhi Chalo' march call.
A three-member team of Union ministers held a detailed discussion with leaders of farmers' organizations here on Thursday evening.
After the meeting, the farmer leaders said the central ministers had assured them that they would hold a second round of the meeting soon.
However, the farmer leaders said their proposed 'Delhi Chalo' march on February 13 still stands.
A senior police officer from Haryana told PTI on Friday that as many as 50 companies of central paramilitary forces, including the Rapid Action Force and the Central Reserve Police Force, have been deployed in the state.
“We are taking adequate measures to maintain public order,” the officer said.
“We had given the request to deploy 65 companies and we have been given 50,” the officer added.
“Where these troops need to be deployed, we have done so,” the officer said of deploying troops.
Home Minister Anil Vij said Haryana Police has made foolproof arrangements and no one will be allowed to disturb the peace in the state.
Besides making elaborate security arrangements, Haryana Police will seal the state's borders with Punjab to prevent farmers from moving towards the national capital, officials said.
The farmers plan to go to Delhi from Ambala-Shambhu, Khanauri-Jind and Dabwali borders.
Police have already stocked concrete blocks, barbed wire, sandbags, barricades and other items at the Shambhu border in Ambala to prevent the protesters from marching towards the national capital.
A senior police official in Jind district told PTI on Friday that they have arranged barbed wire, containers, barricades and concrete blocks etc and will seal the entry point from Punjab.
The police official said the sarpanches in nearby villages have held their meetings and have assured authorities that they will not participate in the march.
In Ambala, Inspector General of Police (Ambala range) Siwas Kaviraj, Superintendent of Police Jashandeep Singh Randhava and Ambala Deputy Commissioner Dr. Shaleen the Haryana-Punjab border near Shambhu toll plaza and assessed the security arrangements there.
Police have directed petrol pump dealers in Ambala not to give fuel to those carrying farmers' union flags on their vehicles.
Water cannon vehicles and drones have been deployed at the Shambhu border, officials said.
Meanwhile, the farmer unions in Ambala are also making preparations for the 'Delhi Chalo' march.
They have held rallies in various villages and also arranged food items to take with them as they marched to Delhi.
The Ambala District Magistrate has imposed Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) in the district. The district administration has written to 400 village 'Sarpanches' to convince them not to participate in the agitation.
On Thursday, police in Ambala had asked farmers not to participate without permission in a planned march to Delhi next week and warned them of strict action if they damage public property.
The warning was issued in notices to several farmer leaders who were preparing to participate in the 'Delhi Chalo' agitation.
Police had also said that if agitators damage public property, strict action will be taken against them under the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.
Loss of government property will also be compensated by seizing the properties and seizing bank accounts of the protesters, police said.
Police have already asked farmers not to rent out their vehicles or to any farmer else they will be seized and registration cancelled.
Besides a legal guarantee for the Minimum Support Price (MSP), the farmers are also demanding implementation of the Swaminathan Commission recommendations, pensions for farmers and farm laborers, debt waiver, withdrawal of police cases and “justice” for the victims of the Lakhimpur Kheri violence. .
In 2020, a large number of farmers from Punjab and nearby areas of Ambala gathered at the Shambhu border and broke police barriers to march towards Delhi.
The farmers, mainly from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, protested for a year at Delhi's border points – Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur – against the three now repealed farm laws.
(Only the headline was reworked by India.com staff. The copy is from an agency feed)