Farm bill protest: Protesting farmers allowed to enter Delhi, Punjab CM welcomes move

New Delhi: The Farmer’s Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 were passed by the Upper House in September through voice vote despite objection from opposition parties.

Heavy presence of security personnel was seen at Singhu border (Haryana-Delhi border) on Friday, in the wake of farmers’ ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest march. Apart from the presence of personnel, barricading laced with barbwires was placed to stop the approaching protestors.

Earlier today, farmers heading towards Delhi against the Centre’s recently passed farm laws halted near the Panipat toll plaza at the National Highway. Police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse the farmers who broke barricades in some places in Haryana. After the night halt at Panipat, the protesting farmers will resume the march the next morning.

UPDATES:

After discussion with farmer leaders, Delhi Police has allowed farmers to protest peacefully at Nirankari Samagam Ground in Burari. We appeal to them to maintain peace in order to avoid any inconvenience to others: Delhi Police PRO Eish Singhal pic.twitter.com/YEzHZE5GTf

— ANI (@ANI) November 27, 2020

The Delhi Police Commissioner has appealed to the farmers to maintain order and demonstrate peacefully. https://t.co/SCNKRyDyPi

— ANI (@ANI) November 27, 2020

Priyanka Gandhi tweeted:

https://twitter.com/i/status/1332204866152763393

Farmers from Punjab wait at the Shambhu border between Haryana and Punjab, near Ambala, to cross into Haryana to proceed to Delhi to protest against Farm laws

Security deployed, barriers and water cannon vehicle placed at the border to prevent farmers from entering Haryana pic.twitter.com/LexWymMvoJ

— ANI (@ANI) November 27, 2020

Heavy security deployment, tear gas used as farmers headed for Delhi protest at Singhu border (Haryana-Delhi border). https://t.co/PovJdCgsRE pic.twitter.com/fwKYd6rMRn

— ANI (@ANI) November 27, 2020

#WATCH Farmers use a tractor to remove a truck placed as a barricade to stop them from entering Delhi, at Tikri border near Delhi-Bahadurgarh highway pic.twitter.com/L65YLRlkBo

— ANI (@ANI) November 27, 2020

#WATCH Delhi: Police use water cannon & tear gas shells to disperse protesting farmers at Tikri border near Delhi-Bahadurgarh highway.

Farmers are seen clashing with security forces, as they tried to head towards Delhi as part of their protest march against Centre’s Farm laws. pic.twitter.com/L67PN4xYKy

— ANI (@ANI) November 27, 2020

Security deployed, barriers placed at the Shambhu border between Haryana and Punjab, near Ambala, to stop the protesting farmers from proceeding to Delhi

“We will ensure law and order is maintained,” says SP Ambala pic.twitter.com/qBlXZ5r98J

— ANI (@ANI) November 27, 2020

Farmers from Punjab stopped from entering Delhi at Singhu border (Haryana-Delhi border)

“We have been doing a peaceful protest and we will continue it. We will enter Delhi protesting peacefully. In a democracy, one should be allowed to protest,” says a farmer pic.twitter.com/Rh2ibAFXGU

— ANI (@ANI) November 27, 2020

Delhi: Traffic jam at Delhi-Gurugram border, due to checking of vehicles by police, in view of farmers’ protest march.

CISF personnel also deployed on Delhi-Gurugram border. pic.twitter.com/VBPxwYoL1Q

— ANI (@ANI) November 27, 2020

Haryana: A group of protesting farmers from Punjab reach Bahadurgarh

Farmers are headed to Delhi as part of their protest march against Centre’s Farm laws. pic.twitter.com/4alBIPIWzK

— ANI (@ANI) November 27, 2020

Haryana: Protesting farmers from Punjab stationed at Panipat before they proceed to Delhi

A farmer says, “No matter what, we will proceed to Delhi. We are travelling with our families carrying ration for six-months.” pic.twitter.com/ry1DLgzCjV

— ANI (@ANI) November 27, 2020

Vehicles are not allowed towards Singhu Border. Interstate vehicles may take Western/Eastern peripheral expressway: Delhi Traffic Police https://t.co/JClU8hz19o

— ANI (@ANI) November 27, 2020

Rohtak: Farmers gathered at Rohtak-Jhajjar border, for ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest march against Centre’s farm laws#Haryana pic.twitter.com/47rtOcYmOv

— ANI (@ANI) November 27, 2020

Heavy presence of security personnel at Singhu border (Haryana-Delhi border), in the wake of farmers’ ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest march. pic.twitter.com/94dK5oYyLA

— ANI (@ANI) November 27, 2020

Amandeep, a farmer, while speaking to ANI said: “The main demand is that they should listen to us. They have brought farm laws and still, they are not hearing us. If the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and Arhtiyas system (middlemen or service providers) are removed then what will the farmers do?”

While the government said the three laws will do away with middlemen, enabling farmers to sell their produce in the commercial markets, protestors fear that this could lead to the government not buying produce at guaranteed prices, thereby disrupting their timely payments.

“We have brought enough ration to sustain for five to six months in Delhi. We are conducting peaceful agitation. Gurudwaras are sending us food supplies as well,” he added.

He further said: “In Kurukshetra, police chased away the elderly farmers by beating them. Will we not be offended by these acts of the state? The farmers will break the barricades. We know how to satisfy the hunger of people so we can overcome any obstacle to meet our demands.”

Another farmer Robindeep Singh said: “We have arranged food supplies to conduct our protests. We have also arranged warm clothes to face the cold. We are going to stay here in the night.”

Moreover, heavy security has been deployed at the Rohtak-Jhajjar border, Delhi-Gurugram and Delhi-Jammu highway near Karna Lake in Karnal.

Furthermore, Delhi-Jammu Highway also saw heavy traffic jam due to a strike called by farmers on Thursday. Forces from at least two police stations, besides three Central Reserve Police Force battalions, have been deployed at the Delhi-Faridabad border.