Farmers' Protest Live: Long Traffic Jams At Borders; Tear Gas Shells Fired At Protestors

After the farmer unions rejected the Central government's five-year purchase plan, around 14,000 agitators are waiting at Shambhu border waiting to enter Delhi by breaching the barriers. Heavey deployment of security forces are seen at Shambhu, Singhu and Ghazipur Borders. Protestors also clashed with security forces at Shambhu border and the forces resorted to firing tear gas shells to disperse the unruly mob. Union Minister Arjun Munda said that talks should be the way forward and added that the government will consider opinions on the issue. The protesters from Punjab plan to break barricades and enter Haryana. Farmer leaders resumed their 'Delhi Chalo' march today after rejecting the Centre's proposal for procuring three pulses, maize and cotton at the minimum support price (MSP) by government agencies for five years. Traffic remained heavily affected at Delhi borders including Ghazipur, Delhi-Noida-Delhi expressway and Delhi-Gurugram expressway.

VIDEO | Farmers' 'Delhi Chalo' march: Security forces fire tear gas shells as agitating farmers try to proceed to Delhi from Punjab-Haryana #ShambhuBorder.#FarmersProtest

(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/hJCbowtYmi — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 21, 2024

VIDEO | Farmers' 'Delhi Chalo' march: Heavy traffic witnessed at Delhi-Gurugram border. pic.twitter.com/T31AW3L2d9 — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 21, 2024

Centre Writes To Punjab Government

The Union Government has informed the Punjab government that nearly 14,000 people have gathered along the Punjab-Haryana border with 1,200 tractor-trolleys, 300 cars, 10 mini-buses as well as small vehicles. The Central government also conveyed its strong objections to the Punjab government for allowing such a huge gathering. In a letter to the Punjab government, the Union Home Ministry said that the deteriorating law-and-order situation in the state has been a matter of concern over the last few days. The home ministry also asked the state government to take stringent action against lawbreakers. The home ministry said many miscreants in the guise of farmers were indulging in stone-pelting, mobilising heavy machinery along the Shambhu on Punjab's border with Haryana.

Haryana Police Writes To Punjab Cops 

On the other hand, Haryana Director General of Police Shatrujeet Kapoor asked his Punjab counterpart to seize bulldozers and other earthmoving equipment from the interstate border which they say protesters will use to break barricades and it could pose a threat to the security forces deployed at the border. After this, Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav ordered state police to not allow JCB, Poklane, Tipper, Hydra and other heavy earthmoving equipment to move towards Khanauri and Shambu border points. On the instructions of DGP Punjab, the SHO of Shambhu police station and another officer were injured while stopping the farmers while taking heavy vehicles and JCB towards Shambhu border.

Fresh Clashes Possible

With Haryana and Punjab police taking action against heavy vehicles including earthmovers, fresh clashes are most likely between protestors and security forces as agitators have said that they will move forward with these vehicles. The farmers had also clashed with the security personnel at the two border points. The protesting farmers have been camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri points on the Punjab and Haryana border since their 'Delhi Chalo' march was stopped by security forces on February 13. 

Punjab And Haryana HC Order

The Punjab and Haryana High Court yesterday slammed the protestors for camping at the Shambhu border with hundreds of tractors, saying tractor-trailers can't be used on highways. A bench of acting Chief Justice G.S. Sandhawalia and Justice Lapita Banerji questioned the Punjab government for allowing the assembly of farmers in such large numbers. Justice Sandhawalia orally asked the state government to ensure that protestors are not gathered in large numbers as "they have the right to protest but it is subjected to reasonable restrictions."