Police Fire Tear Gas Shells as Farmers Restart ‘Delhi Chalo’ March

New Delhi: Haryana police fired tear gas shells at farmers near the Shambhu border as they resumed their ‘Delhi Chalo’ march on Wednesday. The farmers restarted their Delhi march after the fourth round of talks with the government did not bring in any results.

Farmers refused the government’s offer regarding the MSP on five crops. The protesting farmers also brought poclains, JCB machines and other hydraulic equipment to remove the cement barricading and nails that the government had placed near the border to stop their march towards Delhi.

“Owners and operators of Poclains, JCBs: Pls do not provide the services of our equipment to the protestors. Pl withdraw these machines from the protest site. These machines may be used to cause harm to security forces, it’s a non-bailable offence and you may be held criminally liable,” the police said in a social media post.

Farmers’ leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said, “We’ve decided that no farmer, youth will march forward. Leaders will march ahead. We will go peacefully… All this can be ended if they (central govt) make a law on MSP….”

Earlier in the day, Pandher, who is also the General Secretary of the Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Committee, had urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government to discuss their issues or allow farmers to proceed to Delhi to hold a protest peacefully.

“We are saying that it is also the Prime Minister’s responsibility, we too have voted to make him the PM of the country. This country belongs to everyone, the PM belongs to everyone. He should come forward and handle the situation and fulfil our demands,” Pandher said at a joint press conference with other farmer leaders at the Shambhu border on Wednesday morning.

“We tried our best, attended meetings, and every point was discussed. Now the decision has to be taken by the Centre. The Prime Minister should come forward and accept our demands. Rs 1.5-2 lakh crore is not a very big amount…about 60 per cent of the farmers are dependent on it. If farm labourers are added, it constitutes 80 per cent of the country’s population, then our best effort is to remain peaceful,” he added.

Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda has once again urged the farmers to join the fifth round of talks.