Highlights of Farmers Protest: Delhi Police orders 30,000 tear gas shells to prevent Punjab farmers from entering the national capital

Haryana security personnel lobbed tear gas shells on farmers from Punjab at the Shambhu border between the two states as thousands of protesters stayed there on Wednesday, the second day of their ‘Delhi Chalo’ march.The police action came whenever any group of the protesting farmers tried to move towards the barricades.Some farmers also pelted stones at the security personnel, who were positioned close to the barricades.The police have deployed a drone to keep an eye on the protesting farmers, who are demanding a legal guarantee to the minimum support price (MSP).

Here’s what farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said ahead of farmers’ meeting with three Union ministers in Chandigarh later today.“Our demands aren’t 'repetition' but a matter of life and death for us. We will put forward our point in front of the ministers.”

The previous two rounds of dialogue on February 8 and 12 remained inconclusive.Farmers from Punjab are camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders of Punjab and Haryana seeking to march towards Delhi to press the Centre to accept their demands.

A panel of three Union ministers will hold a meeting with protesting farmer leaders in Chandigarh Thursday for another round of talks amid the ongoing standoff between the agitators and security personnel at the Punjab-Haryana border. Agriculture and Farmer Welfare minister Arjun Munda, minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal and minister of state for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai will meet the farmer leaders at 5 pm here over their various demands, including a law guaranteeing Minimum Support Price for crops.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has spoken with a farmer injured in police action during the farmers’ protest march, and accused the Modi government of having a “dictatorial attitude” towards the country’s food providers.Gandhi’s telephonic conversation on Tuesday night with the injured farmer, Gurmeet Singh, was facilitated by Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Raja Warring who visited a government hospital in Rajpura town of Patiala district after the farmers clashed with Haryana Police.In a post in Hindi on his WhatsApp channel, Gandhi said, “Talked on phone to former soldier Gurmeet Singh ji, who was seriously injured in police atrocities during the farmers’ movement.” “Equired about his health and expressed support to him for their peaceful movement demanding their rights,” the former Congress chief said.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh on Wednesday lashed out at the centre over the farmer issue saying that there is a need to understand chronology now."The Swaminathan committee in 2006-07 presented their report on MSP. After that former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh wanted to take a decision. He formed a panel of the National Development Council. The chief of this body was then the Chief Minister of Gujarat Narendra Modi. In Feb 2011, the panel submitted a report to Manmohan Singh. Modi then stated that MSP must be given a legal status. Talks were held. We then lost power at the centre," explained Jairam Ramesh.

On the meeting with ministers today, General Secretary of Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, Sarvan Singh Pandher says, "...We are going to attend the meeting in a completely positive mood today and we have full confidence that a positive solution will emerge from this meeting..."

The Centre, to be represented by ministers Arjun Munda, Piyush Goyal and Nityanand Rai, may offer to set up a new committee to discuss all pending issues, including a legal guarantee for procurement of crops at MSP. But agitators threatened to use force to break barricades erected in Haryana and march towards Delhi after the meeting if govt didn't agree to their demands.

Manmohan Singh government had turned down Swaminathan Committee's recommendation for minimum support price that was at least 50% higher than the weighted average cost of production, arguing that it would distort the market. On Tuesday, Congress functionaries, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge and MP Rahul Gandhi, had said they would bring a law guaranteeing MSP in case they were voted to office. Rahul said his party "decides for the country and not for politics", while questioning criticism over the promise to give legal guarantee on MSP.

The Punjab government on Wednesday announced to bear all the cost of treatment to be incurred on people injured during the Haryana police action to deter farmers from entering the state while on their way to the national capital. Punjab health minister Dr Balbir Singh visited Dr B R Ambedkar State Institute for Medical Sciences (AIMS), Mohali, CHC, Banur, civil hospital, Rajpura, and Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, to know the well-being of farmers, journalists and police personnel injured during the police action.

Bharatiya Janata Party MP Sudhanshu Trivedi on Wednesday assured that the government is committed to finding a solution to farmers' problems but said that technically, the demand for a law (on MSP) is strange as the government cannot form laws now.

"The government is working on the farmers' issues with sensitivity. Most of their demands have been accepted. Technically, since the Lok Sabha session has ended, the demand for a law is strange. The government cannot form laws now. So those who are saying this should consider that the demand they are making is not even legally possible today. That is why our two ministers have held meetings with the farmers, and the government is committed to further addressing the problems of the farmers and finding a solution within the limits of the Constitution," he said.

Amid a huge security buildup continued on inter-state borders between Punjab and Haryana on the second day on Wednesday, a third round of meeting between farmer unions and Centre will be held here on Thursday, sources said.

Earlier, a meeting with top Punjab government functionaries was planned here in the evening with Union Ministers Arjun Munda and Piyush Goyal to virtually hold talks with farmer leaders.

As assembled protesting farmers were adamant on heading to the national capital to lodge the protest over unfulfilled demands, including legal guarantee of minimum support prices (MSP) of crops, the Centre announced to hold another round of talks to "settle the issues amicably", a senior state government functionary said.

In the past two days, police used tear gas on demonstrators in a bid to stop farmers' protests from reaching the national capital.

Scores of policemen and farmers got injures in stone pelting that ensued between them.

The farmers -- representing over 200 farmer unions -- are adamant on heading to the national capital to lodge their protest over unfulfilled demands, including legal guarantee of minimum support prices (MSP) of crops, waiver of farm loans and criminal cases against those protesting farm laws be dropped.

After the second round of talks with farmer union leaders remained "inconclusive" on late Monday, Union Minister Munda said the government is still open to discuss their demands.

Besides Munda, Union Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal was also present in the second round of discussions with farmer leaders in Chandigarh.

"There was a serious discussion with farmers on every topic. The government wants to bring every solution through talks. We reached an agreement on some issues. But there were some issues for which we said that a committee should be made for a permanent solution," Munda had told the media after the meeting. "Any issue can be resolved through discussion. We are hopeful that we will bring solutions. Our motive is that the rights of the farmers and the public are protected," Munda, who was accompanying Goyal, had said.

Amid chaos around the National Capital due to farmers' protests, Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee General Secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher on Wednesday said that the meeting with the Centre will be held tomorrow at 5 pm and the farmers want to resolve all the issues peacefully.

"Even in this position, we are thinking that we will not leave the way of talking. If the Centre comes up with a solution, then we are ready. We don't want any kind of conflict. We want to resolve all issues through dialogue. The meeting with the Centre will be held at 5 pm tomorrow. We are saying again, that tomorrow also we will sit peacefully," he said.

Earlier today, Sarwan Singh Pandher requested the government to stop using tear gas and other forces against the protesting farmers and create a cordial atmosphere.

He alleged that the police used self-loading rifle (SLR) with plastic and rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the farmers who were marching to the national capital on Tuesday.

"Police used SLR bullets, tear gas, plastic and rubber bullets to disperse our farmers. These kinds of actions are not acceptable. The way they are making our perception in the media is not right. They are putting the tag of Khalistani, calling us the supporter of Congress and Punjab government, which is not correct," Pandher said while addressing the media.

Union Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda, who is also negotiating with farmer leaders, urged the protesters to cooperate and communicate so that common people should not have to suffer and said that in the formation of new laws, there are so many things to consider that the government wants to discuss with the farmer organisations.

Amid the ongoing farmers protest, Punjab Cabinet Minister Anmol Gagan Mann on Wednesday said that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann-led state government is with the farmers and the Central government is using the police as a weapon.

After attending the Rural Olympics programme in Kila Raipur, Anmol Gagan Mann said that police using tear gas to disperse the farmers has damaged the eyesight of many.

"The Punjab government is with the farmers. The central government is illegally using the police as a weapon. India is an agricultural country. I belong to a farming family. The use of tear gas has continuously damaged the eyes of many people, and I have read the news that many people have also lost their eyesight. We condemn the way the central government has used the police as an illegal weapon," she said.

In protest against firing of tear gas shells on agitating farmers on Punjab-Haryana border by the police, the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ugrahan) will block rail traffic in Punjab on Thursday from 12 noon to 4 p.m.

The 'rail roko' will take place at 10 locations initially, and more locations may be added, union leaders said.

They said they would block road and rail traffic against the "dictatorial attitude" of the Haryana government.

"This protest is against the repression by the Haryana government against the farmers of a few unions who had to go to Delhi as part of their Dilli Chalo protest call," BKU (Ugrahan) general secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokrikalan told the media.

Union Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda, who is also negotiating with farmer leaders, urged the protesters to cooperate and communicate so that common people should not have to suffer and said that in the formation of new laws, there are so many things to consider that the government wants to discuss with the farmer organisations.

Arjun Munda told ANI that the government has assured them (farmers) that all the works of administrative nature will be fast-tracked.

Union ministers Arjun Munda, Piyush Goyal and Nityanand Rai will hold a meeting with leaders of the protesting farmer groups on Wednesday evening, according to sources.

The meeting will be held through video conferencing, the sources said.

Earlier, the three ministers had two rounds of meeting in Chandigarh with the farmer groups' leaders but the discussions remained inconclusive and the farmers began their protests on Tuesday.

A key demand of the farmers is guaranteed Minimum Support Price (MSP) for various crops.

Senior Union ministers, including Rajnath Singh and Arjun Munda, on Wednesday held discussions on the ongoing farmers' protests and ways to address the issues, according to sources.

The meeting in the national capital assumes significance against the backdrop of farmers from Punjab marching towards Delhi and Haryana Police using tear gas shells to stop them at the Shambhu border between the two states.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, also a former agriculture minister, deliberated upon various farmer issues with Munda, who is currently in charge of the agriculture ministry. Munda is also one of the ministers who held discussions with farmer groups, the sources said.

Details about the meeting could not be immediately ascertained.

The Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) announced that farmers would squat on rail tracks at seven places in Punjab on Thursday in protest against the Haryana Police action against protesting farmers at the borders.

BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) president Joginder Singh Ugrahan said their agitation will be held from 12 noon to 4 pm.

The decision was taken in protest against the use of tear gas shells and water cannons against protesting farmers by the Haryana security personnel at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders, he said.

Haryana Police lobbed tear gas shells at farmers from Punjab at Shambhu border between the two states as thousands of protesters stayed put there on Wednesday, the second day of their 'Delhi Chalo' march.

There was a similar standoff at Data Singhwala-Khanauri border in Haryana's Jind district, with Haryana Police barricades stopping farmers from travelling to Delhi on their tractor-trolleys.

With the farmers from several places in Punjab continuing to pour in at the Shambhu border to participate in the 'Delhi Chalo' march, a large number of tractor-trolleys could be seen parked along the national highway on the Punjab side.

The protesting farmers, who are demanding a guaranteed minimum support price (MSP), planned to make a fresh attempt to break past the multiple layers of barricades at the border with Haryana.

To visit her gynaecologist in Delhi, over eight-month pregnant Madhu Kumari on Wednesday trudged wearily on foot trying to bypass the Singhu border made impregnable by the police using multi-layered barricades.

As a precaution, the streets and bylanes connecting Sonipat in Haryana to Delhi near the Singhu border were dug up to prevent the farmer protesters' 'Delhi Chalo' march from entering the national capital.

The protesting farmers, demanding legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) were held back by the police near Ambala.

Madhu, 30, accompanied by her husband and two other relatives, was one of the large number of commoners forced to face hardships due to the sealed border and heavy deployment of police and para military personnel in the wake of the farmers' march.

"The bus dropped us way behind Singhu border which has been closed by the police. They told us that we have to walk towards the other side to get another mode of transport to Delhi," she said.

The commuters moving between Delhi and Haryana were either stuck up for hours on the closed borders or walked on foot to reach their respective destinations. Their plight was further aggravated by trenches dug up on the bylanes and streets at the border to prevent movement of vehicles and people impossible.

Police officials said some streets were still open for the people to cross the border but ultimately they will also be barricaded if the farmers reach the Singhu border.

Shiromani Akali Dal, has decided to indefinitely defer the ongoing Punjab Bachao Yatra as a show of solidarity with the farmers and farm laborers currently protesting on the borders. Emphasizing the party's commitment to the well-being of agricultural communities, he stated, "The Shiromani Akali Dal has consistently dedicated itself to the welfare of farmers and farm laborers."

Hitting out at the Centre over the farmers' protests, the Congress on Wednesday asked why it is "running away" from giving legal guarantee on MSP despite repeated promises and claimed the farmers have "lost faith" in the Modi government. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also spoke with a farmer injured in police action during a protest march and accused the Modi government of having a "dictatorial attitude" towards the country's food providers.

"In 2011, Narendra Modi, as chief minister and chairman of a working group, had submitted a report to then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, stating that, We need to ensure through legal provisions to protect the interests of farmers. It should be ensured that no transaction between the farmer and the trader is below the MSP. In many of his speeches and election rallies during the Lok Sabha election campaign in 2014, he had promised that all crops would be purchased at MSP, covering all costs and 50% margin (Swaminathan formula of MSP). But till date MSP is neither legally guaranteed nor is it based on the Swaminathan formula of C2+50%.", Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X

"It has come to us through media that Anurag Thakur has said that they are ready for talks and finding resolution to our issues. We do not want to leave any room for them to say that we did not accept their offer. We took permission from our friends, and now we will hold talks (with the government). Our priority is that talks are held in Chandigarh or anywhere near the protest site," says SKM (Non-Political) leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal.

The protesting farmers said they were determined to march towards the national capital, many young farmers have made their tractors ready for removing the multi-layered cemented blocks at the Shambhu border. They have also made arrangements of water tankers in order to minimise the impact of any tear gas shell lobbed by the Haryana security personnel. The farmers were also carrying water bottles and wet clothes to limit the impact of tear gas shells.

Scores of farmers from Punjab continued to stay put at the two borders of the state and Haryana on Wednesday while security personnel fired some tear gas shells on the protesters at the Shambhu border near Ambala. As the peasants gather there to resume their 'Delhi Chalo' protest, farmer leaders will first hold a meeting before moving ahead with their plan to break multi-layered barricades at the Shambhu border in an attempt to march towards Delhi.