Security arrangements have been significantly ramped up at the Shambhu Border ahead of today’s Delhi March organised by farmers. Police have set up barricades along the Ambala-Delhi border as farmers are scheduled to depart from Shambhu Border for Delhi at 1 pm.
“The march has entered its 297th day and the indefinite hunger strike at the Khanauri border has entered its 11th day. At 1 pm, a ‘jatha’ of 101 farmers will move towards Delhi from the Shambhu Border…” Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said.
What are their demands?
More than 100 farmers are scheduled to march towards Delhi on Friday to demand a legal guarantee for the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of crops, debt waivers, pensions for farmers and farm labourers, the reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, and no increase in electricity tariffs.
In addition, they have demanded justice for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence and compensation for the families of farmers who lost their lives during the 2020-21 protest.
Slow traffic expected at Shambhu Border
Residents of Delhi-NCR may experience traffic disruptions as security measures have been intensified at the borders, with barricades set up on key routes. Traffic movement may be slow along NH-44 as security at the Shambhu Border has been significantly increased. Both Haryana and Punjab police have deployed additional resources in the area.
Authorities will be closely monitoring the Singh border and are prepared to manage any situation that may arise. Earlier this week, a similar protest by farmers from Uttar Pradesh caused significant inconvenience, leading to traffic jams for thousands of commuters heading to work.
Section 163 imposed in Ambala
In Ambala, the district administration has imposed Section 163 of the BNSS, which prohibits the assembly of five or more people, and issued notices around the Shambhu border. This section has also been enforced in Jind, where farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal has been on an indefinite hunger strike for the past 10 days.
Farmers had previously attempted to march towards Delhi on February 13 and February 21. However, their efforts were thwarted by security forces at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points along the Punjab-Haryana border.
Since then, farmers, under the banners of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, have been protesting at these border locations. This march follows months of stalled talks with the central government.