Farmers "Delhi Chalo" March : Thousands Demand Law Guaranteeing Minimum Support Price
New Delhi, February 13: As thousands of farmers from Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh begin their “Delhi Chalo” march in protest of the lack of a legal guarantee for the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for their crops, tensions mount on Delhi borders. This massive protest takes place two years after the abolition of the agricultural bill taken down by the central government , which was preceded by protests at Delhi’s borders for a whole year.
#WATCH | Farmers continue 'Delhi Chalo' march on Ambala highway, onward to Punjab-Haryana Shambhu border pic.twitter.com/PPYFTJYyNS
— ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2024
Central Government Attempts Dialogue
The Central Government offered to create a committee to discuss unresolved concerns during two rounds of negotiations with farmer representatives in an attempt to defuse tensions. Farmers, however, are still not happy, pointing out that a key requirement is that the legal guarantee for MSP be made clearer.
Farmers "Delhi Chalo" March : Delhi Strengthens Borders:
The government has implemented rigorous steps to limit mobility in response to the 2020 demonstrations. Barbed wire, cement barriers, and even nails positioned on highways are used to strongly obstruct borders. In Delhi, unlawful assembly is forbidden under Section 144. Haryana has cordoned off its borders with Punjab, while CCTV and drones are being used by the Bahadurgarh and Noida administrations.
#WATCH | Concrete slabs, barbed wires, police deployment in Haryana's Bahadurgarh as a measure to maintain law and order in view of farmers 'Delhi Chalo' march pic.twitter.com/usdbVCREqP
— ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2024
Farmers Undeterred
Farmers promise to continue their nonviolent protest, which will begin at 10 a.m. Sarwan Singh Pandher and Jagjit Singh Dallewal are leading more than 200 farmer groups and unions that will take part in protests. They reject claims of causing inconvenience, stating the heavy barricading restricts their movement and resembles international borders.
Opposition Supports Farmers "Delhi Chalo" March:
The Congress party extends its support, promising to repeal the farm laws if voted to power. However, the Supreme Court Bar Association seeks suo motu action against farmers for potentially disrupting daily life. AAP’s Delhi Government rejects the central government’s proposal to convert Bawana Stadium into a jail in view of the farmers’ march to Delhi today. On the Centre’s proposal, Delhi Government Home Minister Kailash Gehlot says “The demands of the farmers are genuine. It is the constitutional right of every citizen to make a peaceful protest. It is therefore incorrect to arrest the farmers…”
Key Differences from 2020 farmers protests :
While the demand for MSP persists, the landscape of farmer unions has changed. New leaders like Dallewal and Pandher lead the protest, unlike the 2020 movement fronted by Rakesh Tikait and Gurnam Singh Charuni. Additionally, the government engaged in pre-emptive dialogue this time, unlike in 2020, when talks began later.
As the march unfolds, the situation remains tense. With both sides holding firm, questions arise about potential clashes and the possibility of a resolution. All eyes are on the government’s next move and the farmers’ ability to sustain their protest with heavy security measures in place.
