New Delhi: Farmers are set to resume their ‘Delhi Chalo’ foot march today, December 14, in a continued effort to push for their long-standing demands, which include a legal guarantee for the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops and loan waivers. A group of 101 farmers will head towards the national capital as part of a protest that has now lasted for 10 months.
Since February 13, the farmers have been stationed at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana after security forces blocked their previous attempts to reach Delhi. The protest is organized by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha.
Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher announced the decision to march towards Delhi, stating that farmers had prayed at Sikh shrines for solidarity and blessings for the movement’s success. Meanwhile, another leader, Jagjit Singh Dallewal, has been on an indefinite hunger strike for over 18 days at the Khanauri border, and his health has worsened, with doctors noting significant weight loss and unstable blood pressure.
On Friday, the Supreme Court instructed the Punjab and Central governments to provide medical assistance to Dallewal, emphasizing the importance of his life over the protest. The court also suggested that the farmers consider adopting Gandhian methods of protest.
In preparation for the march, security measures have been intensified along the interstate border at the Ghaggar rivulet, with central paramilitary forces and Haryana police deployed. Previous attempts by farmers to march were met with teargas shells from security forces to prevent them from crossing barricades. Temporary barricades, heavily guarded by police and paramilitary personnel, have been erected to restrict their movement.
The farmers had briefly paused their march on December 8 after clashes with security personnel at Shambhu resulted in injuries. However, they remain resolute in their demands for legal reforms to benefit the agricultural sector. The Haryana Police had previously invoked prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) to justify their actions in preventing the protesters from advancing. Despite these challenges, the farmers are determined to bring their grievances to the attention of Parliament.