Farmers are ready to protest, and a heavy deployment of police forces is in place to prevent the Delhi march. Delhi Police, from Haryana to Delhi, is on high alert regarding the farmers’ march. Before the proposed Delhi Chalo march on February 13, the border near Shambhu in Haryana, close to Punjab, has been sealed. Concrete barricades, sandbags, barbed wires, and blocking of roads for anti-riot vehicles have been implemented. To prevent protesters from throwing obstacles, iron sheets have been placed on both sides of the road on Ghaggar Flyover. Water cannon vehicles and riot control vehicles are stationed, and excavation under the Ghaggar River aims to prevent pedestrians from crossing.
In an effort to thwart the farmers’ Delhi march, borders are being sealed in Jind and Fatehabad, Haryana. Extensive arrangements have been made to deter farmers. In Fatehabad district, concrete barriers and spiked strips have been placed on roads in the Jakhla area to prevent Punjab demonstrators from advancing towards Delhi. Delhi Police is also gearing up to halt the farmers’ march, with Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora personally inspecting security arrangements at Tikri Border before the march.
Internet services shut down in seven districts
Anticipating potential disruptions during the farmers’ Delhi march, the Haryana government has imposed a ban on mobile internet services and bulk SMS in seven districts—Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad, and Sirsa—from February 11 to 13. Meanwhile, the farmers are fully prepared for the Delhi march, with a procession departing from Bhatinda for Delhi on February 13. However, amid this, the central government has scheduled another meeting on February 12 to discuss the farmers’ demands, inviting them for negotiations.
What are the farmers’ demands?
The United Farmers Front and the Farmers Workers Front had announced the “Delhi Chalo” protest on February 13, involving more than 200 farmers’ groups. The aim is to exert pressure on the central government to accept various demands, including the guarantee of minimum support prices for crops through legislation. The plan involves marches from Ambala-Shambhu border, Khanouri-Jind, and Dubwali border to Delhi. Prohibitory orders have been imposed in Ambala and Kaithal districts due to the farmers’ demonstration, restricting gatherings of five or more people. Police are also holding meetings with village heads and khap panchayats, urging them not to participate in the march.
