Tension brews as Haryana officials paste prohibitory notice at Shambhu

Tension is brewing at the Shambhu border on the National Highway-4, the epicentre of Kisan Andolan 2.0, as farmers led by Kisan Mazdoor Morcha leader Sarwan Singh Pandher gear up for their Delhi march on December 6.

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A fresh controversy has erupted after Haryana officials put up a prohibitory notice under Section 144 of the CrPC, banning the assembly of four or more persons at the place where protesting farmers are staying in tents at the Shambhu border.

Farmer leader Tajveer Singh accused the Centre and the Punjab Government of allegedly trying to sabotage the Dilli Chalo march of the farmers. He said the tents are located 500 m inside the Punjab boundary. It was yet to be ascertained who allowed Haryana officials to cross the border and paste a prohibitory order there, he added.

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) had earlier announced that farmers would march to Delhi on December 6. The march was part of their ongoing efforts to press for their demands, including guaranteed MSP, farm loan waiver and agricultural reforms. Farmers have said that their protest will be peaceful.

The notice pasted on a tent reads that the Supreme Court, in a hearing on the issue on July 24, had ordered that status quo should be maintained and that it also appointed a committee to discuss the matter with both sides.

The notice states that as per the Haryana Police Act, permission of the police officers concerned is mandatory for organising any procession or public programme. The officers concerned could prohibit any such procession if there was an apprehension that it could lead to law and order problems.

An appeal has been made to the farmers to reconsider their decision of holding march as the permission for holding a protest at the designated site in Delhi was still awaited.

Farmers, however, are not in a mood to relent and have asked representatives of various unions to reach at the Shambhu border by 5 pm on December 5. Pandher said 16 farmer organisations would take part in the march.