On 11 Feb, the Haryana authorities closed the Haryana-Panjab border at Shambu for vehicular movement towards Ambala or Delhi. Authorities put in place five-layer barricades with reinforced cement boulders, iron barriers, concertina wires, shipping containers, sand trucks, nails, tear gas drills, and water cannons. Paramilitary is deployed. Revenue officials and police warned villagers in Haryana and Rajasthan. Haryana has suspended the internet along the National Highway 44. Over the next two days, all roads to Delhi were barricaded -- Khanauri, Rohtak, Mandi Dabwali, and even Greater Noida to prevent Uttar Pradesh farmers from entering Delhi. Talks between Kisan Mazdoor Morcha and Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta Sidhupur) with union government ministers failed on 12 Feb night. The farmers' primary demand is what the government promised when the Farmers’ Protest 2020-21 ended: Minimum Support Price. Also, justice for Lakhimpur Kheri, revocation of over 50,000 police cases from the last protest. On 13 Feb, an estimated 50,000 farmers marched towards Shambhu and Khanauri in south Panjab. During the course of the day, the security forces dropped over 2,000 tear gas canisters through drones, and fired rubber bullets; around 200 farmers sustained injuries. Farmers broke down three layers of barricades. The night was a stalemate. At the time this piece is going to press, the farmers have resumed their march. Last year, PM Narendra Modi had called India ‘the mother of democracy’. Just last week the union government conferred Bharat Ratnas on the architect of the Green Revolution MS Swaminathan and farmer leader Chowdhry Charan Singh. Yet, this is the real face of the government – a war on farmers.
Like what you're reading? Subscribe to our top stories.
Liv Forum provides a digest of analysis on major issues facing Indian (East) Panjab and Sikhs globally.
In accordance with our Privacy Policy, we will never share or sell the information of our subscribers.
