The Haryana government continued to hold a tough stance on the Punjab farmers, who have announced a march to Delhi, making it clear Monday that it will not let them pass through the state in their tractor trolleys. It may, however, let the farmers through if they agree to move on foot.
Several Haryana ministers, including Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, Agriculture Minister Shyam Singh Rana, and Energy Minister Anil Vij, gave clear hints that the state government was in no mood to allow farmers to cross through the State.
For over 10 months, farmers, under the aegis of Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) and the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) are protesting on two borders of Punjab and Haryana – Shambhu and Khanauri. Heavy barricading continues to be in place at both the places barring farmers to enter Haryana from both the borders. Farmers continue to camp on the Punjab side. These are the same two places, from where the farmers are seeking entry into Haryana to reach Delhi on December 6.
The Haryana Police Monday called farmer union leaders for talks at Ambala. The farmers’ delegation was led by KMM coordinator Sarwan Singh Pandher. Speaking to reporters after meeting Superintendent of Police (Ambala) SS Bhoria, Pandher said the delegation informed the police administration about the route of the farmers’ march. He said the delegation assured the police that the march would be peaceful and traffic along the route would not be blocked.
“The meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere. We gave details about our programme, which we have already announced to the media. We said that we would go in ‘jathas’ and go peacefully. There will be no traffic blockade. We will halt on the roads at night,” Pandher said.
The farmers assured the Haryana Police that they will not hold any protests or cause any traffic hurdle on the highways. “We told them that morcha at Shambu will stay put till the time we get either Ramlila ground or Jantar mantar at New Delhi to protest,” he added.
Asked if the Haryana authorities had given permission for the march to proceed towards Delhi, the farmer leader said, “They will hold a meeting and accordingly inform us.”
CM Saini, meanwhile, said, “Farmers should protest in Punjab where Aam Aadmi Party is governing or other states that are governed by the Congress. Haryana is the only state that is giving MSP on 24 crops to our farmers”.
Minister Vij said farmers should first show if they have indeed secured permission from Delhi government. Shyam Singh Rana added, “The law and order situation can not be allowed to be disrupted”.
Former Haryana chief minister and senior Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda extended support to farmers’ march and termed it as “their democratic right”. He, however, added that “nobody should breach the law and order. Action should be taken against anybody who disrupts law and order. But, if farmers are going to make their point peacefully, it is their democratic right”.
The Congress leader added, “Earlier, a committee was constituted. No report of the committee has come so far. Farmers are demanding that legal guarantee on MSP should be given, which is not being accepted.”
Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar too advocated for dialogue with farmers. He said that farmers in Punjab feel deceived after facing exploitation due to the slow lifting of paddy and reduced prices in mandis.
Pandher had earlier said on December 1 that a group of farmers would march towards Delhi on Thursday, even as he lashed out at the Centre for not holding talks with the protesting farmers for resolving their issues, including a legal guarantee on MSP for crops.
Besides a legal guarantee on MSP, the farmers are demanding farm loan waiver, pension for farmers and farm labourers, no hike in the electricity tariff, withdrawal of police cases, “justice” for victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence, reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, and compensation to the families of farmers who died during a previous agitation in 2020-21.
Sharing details about their plan to march towards the national capital from Shambhu, Pandher had said on December 1 that the first “jatha (group)” would be led by Satnam Singh Pannu, Surinder Singh Chautala, Surjit Singh Phul and Baljinder Singh.
The group will carry essential items and peacefully head towards Delhi, he had said.
The farmers will walk from 9 am to 5 pm and spend the nights on the road.
Farmers' group crosses barricades, while marching towards Delhi. (Express Photo by Abhinav Saha) 
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