Delhi Chalo March: Tensions flared at the Haryana-Punjab Shambhu border on Friday as protesting farmers clashed with police while attempting to march towards Delhi to press for their demands, including a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP) for crops. Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher announced the suspension of the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march for the day as he said some farmers suffered injuries due to teargas shells
Pandher told news agency ANI, “We have called off ‘Jattha’ and not the march (to Delhi). Six farmers have been injured.”
#WATCH | At the Shambhu border, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher says, “We have called off ‘Jattha’ and not the march (to Delhi). 6 farmers have been injured…” pic.twitter.com/Pjun50t0lD
— ANI (@ANI) December 6, 2024
“The proposal we’ve made is that either you let ‘jatha’ go to Delhi peacefully or engage in talks. They have asked us for a memorandum. We will send the memorandum to the SP Ambala via WhatsApp… If their letter arrives late at night, our doors are open for talks. After discussing with all the leaders, we will inform you of the next steps,” the farmer leader told news agency PTI.
VIDEO | “The proposal we’ve made is that either you let ‘jatha’ go to Delhi peacefully or engage in talks. They have asked us for a memorandum. We will send the memorandum to the SP Ambala via WhatsApp… If their letter arrives late at night, our doors are open for talks. After… pic.twitter.com/UxSpeFdsJM
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 6, 2024
The Haryana police used tear gas to disperse the farmers, who had removed barricades and attempted to cross into Haryana.
#WATCH | Police use tear gas to disperse protesting farmers at the Haryana-Punjab Shambhu Border.
The farmers have announced to march towards the National Capital-Delhi over their various demands. pic.twitter.com/TQyigtUF6K
— ANI (@ANI) December 6, 2024
#WATCH | Police use tear gas to disperse protesting farmers at the Haryana-Punjab Shambhu Border.
The farmers have announced to march towards the National Capital-Delhi over their various demands. pic.twitter.com/sTed7fCxIh
— ANI (@ANI) December 6, 2024
Drone visuals showed a heavy deployment of security personnel at the border, where farmers were stopped by multilayered barricades.
#WATCH | Drone visuals from the Haryana-Punjab Shambhu Border where the farmers protesting over various demands have been stopped from heading towards Delhi pic.twitter.com/LlTOFmnhtL
— ANI (@ANI) December 6, 2024
Some farmers, carrying flags of farmers’ unions, pushed iron meshes down a bridge over the Ghaggar River.
#WATCH | Protesting farmers remove the barricades as they try to cross over the Haryana-Punjab Shambhu border. pic.twitter.com/QJdpsfYKCj
— ANI (@ANI) December 6, 2024
Despite prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), farmers insisted on proceeding peacefully.
A group of 101 farmers, referred to as a ‘jatha,’ began their foot march towards Delhi but was stopped metres away from the border. Ambala’s Deputy Commissioner had prohibited processions by foot, vehicles, or other modes, and ordered the closure of all schools—government and private—in the district, news agency PTI reported.
ALSO READ | Farmers On ‘Delhi Chalo’ March Stopped At Shambhu Border, Internet Suspended In Parts Of Haryana: Top Points
‘Doors Open For Farmers To Come And Have Dialogue’: MoS Agriculture On Farmers’ Protest
The Haryana government also suspended mobile internet and bulk SMS services in 11 villages of Ambala district until December 9, citing “apprehensions of tension, annoyance, agitation, and disturbance of public peace.” The affected villages include Dangdehri, Lohgarh, Manakpur, and Saddopur, among others, as per an order by Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Sumita Misra.
Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Bhagirath Choudhary, urged farmers to engage in dialogue, saying, “Doors are open for the farmers to come and have dialogue regarding their issues. I am also their brother and if they want to come, doors are open; if they want us to go there, we will go in between them to have dialogue.”
#WATCH | Delhi | MoS for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Bhagirath Choudhary says, “Doors are open for the farmers to come and have dialogue regarding their issues. I am also their brother and if they want to come, doors are open, if they want us to go there we will go in… pic.twitter.com/vByRuCRdpo
— ANI (@ANI) December 6, 2024
This fresh confrontation comes as farmers intensify their demand for MSP guarantees, a key issue that has long been a flashpoint between the Centre and the agricultural community.