All eyes on Shambhu border as farmers begin march to Delhi today

Tension is escalating at the Shambhu border on the National Highway-44, the epicentre of Kisan Andolan 2.0, as the first group of farmers, named ‘Marjeevda Jatha’, is scheduled to march to the national capital tomorrow.

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The situation turned grim after the Haryana Government imposed prohibitory order under Section 144 of the CrPC (Section 163 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita) banning any procession in Ambala.

As per the schedule, the protesting farmers — part of SKM (Non-political) — would assemble at the Shambhu border and offer prayers to mark the martyrdom anniversary of Guru Teg Bahadur, the ninth Sikh guru. Around 1 pm, the first “Marjeevda Jatha” consisting of 100 farmers will leave for Delhi.

Ahead of the ‘Dilli Chalo’ protest, Deputy Inspector General of Police Mandeep Singh Sidhu (Patiala Range), Patiala SSP Nanak Singh and SP Sarfaraz Alam met farmer leaders at the Shambhu border today and asked them to shelve their protest march. They told them that Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar had come out in their favour and asked the government to engage farmers in talks and stop the situation from escalating further. The meeting lasted for nearly half an hour but the farmer leaders did not budge.

Later, Haryana DSPs Rajat Gulia and Ram Kumar held a meeting with farmer leaders Sarwan Singh Pandher, Satnam Singh Pannu, Guramneet Singh Mangat and others. They urged farmers to reflect on their decision, but to no avail.

While the cops refused to speak to the media, Mangat said the police officials asked them to show the permission for the ‘Dilli Chalo’ march. “Unless farmers are not given the permission to take out a procession, the Haryana Police will not let us hold the march,” he stated.

Addressing mediapersons, Pandher maintained that it would be a peaceful march and no vehicle would be used.

“Marjeevda Jatha” would mainly consist of elderly men and women. They will carry a water bottle and wet cloth to protect themselves from any tear gas shell or water cannon attack. “Following the teachings of Guru Teg Bahadur, who sacrificed his life for the protection of human rights, the farmers, who are part “Marjeevda Jatha”, are determined to sacrifice their lives for the rights of farmers,” said Pandher.

“It would be our moral victory if the government used force against the peacefully marching farmers. The entire world would see how the largest democracy is thwarting a democratic protest,” he said.

The ‘Dilli Chalo’ march is part of the ongoing efforts of the SKM (Non-political) to press for their demands, including guaranteed MSP, farm loan waiver and agricultural reforms.

Meanwhile, Pandher sought action against the Ambala DC, whom he accused of rumour mongering. He said the DC was spreading misinformation that thousands of farmers would be heading for Delhi from the Shambhu border on tractors and trollies and that they would be carrying weapons.