Punjab farmers head to Delhi ahead of protest march: Tractors banned in UP as Section 144 imposed

Ahead of renewed farmers’ unrest, authorities are sealing the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh and Delhi-Haryana borders and deploying more than 5,000 security personnel to bolster defenses in the national capital. Several farmers’ associations, mainly from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab, have called for protests on February 13.

“Information has been received that some farmer organizations have appealed to their supporters to gather/march to Delhi on February 13 to demand laws against MSPs and others. They are likely to stand firm at Delhi borders till their demands are met . To avoid any untoward incident and maintain law and order, a preventive order under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 is required to save lives and property in the area,” Delhi Police said in a statement.

Farmers have left Bathinda for Delhi to take part in the ‘Delhi-Chalo’ march ahead of the protest planned for Monday.

Meanwhile, Delhi Police on Sunday enforced Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code at the Uttar Pradesh border to avoid any untoward incident and maintain law and order.

“Tractors, trolleys, buses, trucks, commercial vehicles, private vehicles, horses, etc. are prohibited from carrying protesters from Uttar Pradesh into Delhi. The Northeast District Police are ordered to make all efforts to prevent protesters from entering Delhi,” the order said.

Farmers are demanding a law guaranteeing minimum support price (MSP), which was one of the conditions they set in 2021 when they agreed to withdraw their agitation against the now-repeated farm laws.

Apart from this, they also sought implementation of Swaminathan Commission recommendations, pension for farmers and farm workers, waiver of farm debts, withdrawal of police cases and “justice” for victims of Lakhimpur Kheri violence.

Security tightened at Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border

Delhi Police has sealed Gazipur, news agency ANI reported. Roadblocks were also put up at the Chilla border, with Noida police on one side and Delhi police on the other, to prevent protesters from entering the national capital.

Thousands of farmers from around 100 villages in Noida and Greater Noida took to the streets on Thursday in an unsuccessful attempt to march to Parliament, bringing traffic to a standstill in several areas of Delhi’s National Capital Region.

Haryana fortified

Ahead of farmers’ proposed ‘Delhi Chalo’ march, the Haryana government has ordered suspension of mobile internet services and bulk SMS in seven districts.

As per the official order, mobile internet services will continue to be suspended in Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad and Sirsa districts from 6 am on February 11 to 11:59 pm on February 13.

It was decided to suspend mobile internet services, bulk SMS and all dongle services due to concerns that the proposed march would disturb the peace.

According to an order issued by Haryana Additional Chief Secretary (Home) TVSN Prasad, the move is to stop the spread of misinformation and rumors through various social media platforms such as mobile phones and SMS to facilitate and mobilize agitators and protesters. Arson or vandalism and other types of violence can cause serious loss of life and damage to public and private property.

Local authorities in Ambala, Jind, Fatehabad and Sirsa districts have also blocked almost all entry points at the Punjab border by building huge concrete walls. “We will not allow the state to disrupt peace in any way. If anyone tries to disrupt law and order, we will take action,” police commissioner Shatrujeet Kapur said.

Meanwhile, according to Panchkula DCP Sumer Singh Pratap, Panchkula authorities have also invoked Section 144, which bans processions, demonstrations and carrying of arms.

Anticipating traffic jams, Haryana Police has urged commuters to restrict travel on major roads on February 13 and has also issued a traffic advisory advising people traveling between Chandigarh and Delhi to adopt alternatives. Ease potential traffic congestion.

The authorities erected concrete barricades and sealed the road at the Shambhu border while digging up the Ghaggar river bed to impede movement. Security has also been tightened near the Tikri border.

DCP Arshdeep Singh said, “We have sealed the Shambhu border due to the farmers’ movement… When they (farmers) come here, we ask them not to cross the border as they do not have permission.” We hope they end this peacefully sports……”

The Punjab-Haryana and Delhi-Haryana borders were partially blocked by erecting barricades, boulders, dump trucks filled with sand and barbed wire, affecting vehicular traffic and affecting commuters.

Paramilitary forces were even deployed to prevent untoward incidents and restrict the movement of vehicles.

Three Union ministers to hold meeting with farmers again

Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said on Saturday that the Center has invited them to a meeting on February 12 to discuss their demands. He said that three Union Ministers – Piyush Goyal, Arjun Munda and Nityanand Rai will arrive on February 12 Chandigarh, a delegation of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha held talks with them.

The meeting will be held at the Mahatma Gandhi National Institute of Public Administration in Sector 26 a day ahead of the farmers’ proposed ‘Delhi Chalo’ march. Pandel also shared the letter inviting them to hold talks in Chandigarh.

The first meeting with three Union ministers was held on February 8, where detailed discussions were held with leaders of farmers’ organizations planning to hold a ‘Delhi Chalo’ march to press for their demands, including a guaranteed minimum Laws supporting prices. Crops, held.

The meeting was also attended by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who arranged the meeting in coordination with farmer leaders.

After the meeting, farmer leaders said central ministers have assured them that they will hold the second round of the meeting soon. Farmer leaders said their proposed ‘Delhi Chalo’ march on February 13 remains valid.

But Mann said ministers and farmer leaders had agreed on many things, including withdrawing cases registered against farmers during previous agitation against the now-repeated farm laws and tough penalties for fake seeds and chemicals.

farmers protest

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha have announced that over 200 farmer unions will hold a ‘Delhi Chalo’ march on February 13. This is the second largest protest since farmers agreed to withdraw from agitation over violations of the now repealed farm laws in 2021.