Farmer Delhi March: Farmers protesting at the Haryana-Punjab border for a legal guarantee of Minimum Support Price (MSP) have decided to call off their planned ‘Dilli Chalo‘ march for today (Sunday). However, the protest remains active, according to farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher.
Pandher stated, “We have decided to withdraw today’s group. But the movement will continue. One farmer has been sent to PGI (hospital), and eight or nine others have been injured. The weather is also unfavorable. After the meeting, we will announce our future strategy.” He noted that police had used tear gas and rubber bullets against the protesters.
The farmers, who are advocating for a legal framework for MSP, reported injuries from the tear gas fired by the police.
The protest began on Sunday with a group of 101 farmers aiming to reach Delhi. Around noon, they reached the Haryana border, but were stopped by Haryana Police, who used tear gas to disperse the group and urged the farmers to comply with the law. In a symbolic gesture, the police also threw flowers at the protesters, though this did little to calm the situation.
As the farmers continued their march, police fired more tear gas shells, resulting in injuries to at least four people. The protesters assert that their intentions are peaceful but accuse the Haryana Police of obstructing their march and employing excessive force.
Farmer leader Pandher had announced the march on Saturday after a previous attempt was postponed. The decision to delay the march was made following injuries to several protesters and in hopes of opening a dialogue with the government.
Pandher expressed frustration over the central government’s silence, stating, “No message has been received from the central government for talks on the farmers’ issues.”
Despite today’s withdrawal, the farmers remain resolute in their demands and plan to outline their next steps following internal discussions. The movement highlights their insistence on securing a legal guarantee for MSP and addressing other critical issues facing the agricultural community.
