With ‘Dilli Chalo’ banners on jeeps, loudspeaker announcements, farmers line up towards Shambhu barrier

Sitting on tractor-trollies parked on a service lane in Fatehgarh Sahib near Hansali Sahib Gurdwara, many are preparing to move ahead towards the Shambhu barrier 50 km ahead. From an open jeep, Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) member Sardara Singh uses a loudspeaker to ask all farmers to remain disciplined. “Stay at this location. We will tell you when to start. The order of the tractors will be fixed by us. Who all will stay at the front and will be behind… All have to travel in that order. No one will jump the queue,” he says.

A convoy of jeeps of the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) going from Fatehgarh Sahib in Punjab to Shambhu barrier (Express Photo by Gurmeet Singh)

The open jeep is continuously doing the rounds along the convoy which has been strategically parked in the service lane in a range of a kilometre. Many tractor-trollies have been parked at the Fatehgarh Sahib grain market as well.

Talking to The Indian Express, KMM coordinator Sarvan Singh Pandher says, “We don’t want any confrontation with the government but when they are not paying heed to the demands of farmers, we have no choice but to protest and make ourselves heard. However, peaceful protest is our message to all the members. At Fatehgarh Sahib, tractor-trollies have come from Amritsar, Ferozepur, Kapurthala and Jalandhar. Those from Tarn Taran will be on the other border.” KMM members who are on their way keep calling Pandher and he guides them to Fatehgarh Sahib.

Many of the farmers’ jeeps have affixed banners that say ‘Dilli Chalo’ in Punjabi. (Express Photo by Gurmeet Singh)

Jeeps of the Punjab Police’s Sadak Suraksha Force have also been stationed nearby and personnel have been deputed to maintain law and order.

Many of the farmers’ jeeps have affixed banners that say ‘Dilli Chalo’ in Punjabi. Sandeep Singh, a youngster from Zira village in Ferozepur, says, “I am sure Haryana farmers have enough arrangements and they will support us ahead. It is a farmers’ movement and hence people will come on their own.”

While elderly farmers can be seen sitting on many tractor-trollies, Sandeep says, “Youngsters too are present in large numbers and they will be leading from the front.” Heavy cranes are also likely to arrive from villages. (Express Photo by Gurmeet Singh)

While elderly farmers can be seen sitting on many tractor-trollies, Sandeep says, “Youngsters too are present in large numbers and they will be leading from the front.” Heavy cranes are also likely to arrive from villages.

Near the convoy, Vinod Kumar, the manager of Multani Dhaba, is glued to the live television coverage of the Dilli Chalo protest. “There has been no business for the past one week as the Haryana government has erected several hurdles in this area. However, we are concerned about farmers. They are our own. During the previous Delhi Chalo protest, our owner Karnail Singh had sent a trolley full of ration to the Singhu border,” Kumar says.

A considerable number of farmers have plans to enter Haryana via the Shambhu border. (Express Photo by Gurmeet Singh)

80 years old Karnail Singh on way to Shambu (Express Photo by Raakhi Jagga)

Meanwhile, the Punjab Police have also made adequate arrangements on the Patiala side of Shambhu barrier. Speaking to The Indian Express, Patiala Deputy Commissioner Showkat Ahmed Parray says, “We have deputed around 1,200 cops in Patiala. There are three main borders of Punjab with Haryana and 11 other entries from different villages. A total of 14 duty magistrates have been appointed at different locations. Twelve fire brigade vehicles and 14 ambulances have been parked at different locations. Hospitals are prepared for emergencies, if any.”