Haryana security personnel on Saturday lobbed teargas shells to disperse protesting farmers who were attempting to cross multi-layered barricades erected as a preventive step at Shambhu border point between Punjab and Haryana.&nbsp;
Farmers had resumed their &lsquo;Delhi Chalo&rsquo; foot march on Saturday, pressing for the fulfillment of their long-pending demands, including a legal guarantee for the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops and loan waivers.
The police, who were trying to convince a delegation of 101 farmers that they should not enter Haryana as they didn&rsquo;t have permission to go to the national capital, and should go back, also used water cannons to disperse them.
This was the third attempt by the 101 farmers to march towards the national capital as part of the ongoing protest that has now completed 10 months. Earlier, they attempted to march towards Delhi on December 6 and 8.
The protesting farmers have been camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders, both in Punjab, since February 13, after security forces stopped their attempts to proceed to Delhi.
The protest is being held under the banner of Samyukta Kisan Morcha and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha.
Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher announced the decision to march towards Delhi and mentioned that farmers had prayed at Sikh shrines to express solidarity and seek blessings for the movement&rsquo;s success.
Meanwhile, farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been on an indefinite hunger strike for over 18 days at the Khanauri border, has seen his health deteriorate significantly. Doctors attending to him have reported decreasing weight and unstable blood pressure.
On Friday, the Supreme Court directed the Punjab and Central governments to ensure medical assistance for Dallewal, emphasizing that his life is more important than the agitation. The court also suggested that the farmers adopt Gandhian methods of protest.
In anticipation of the march, security along the interstate border on the Ghaggar rivulet has been heightened, with central paramilitary forces and Haryana police deployed.
During the earlier march attempts, teargas shells were used by the security forces to prevent farmers from crossing the barricades. Temporary barricades, heavily guarded by police and paramilitary personnel, were set up to restrict their movement.
The protesting farmers had briefly suspended their march on December 8 after clashes with security personnel at Shambhu resulted in injuries. However, the farmers remain steadfast in their demands, which include legal reforms to improve the agricultural sector.
The Haryana police had previously invoked prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) to justify their actions in preventing the protestors from advancing. Despite this, the farmers are determined to highlight their grievances in front of Parliament.
Meanwhile, ahead of the march, internet services in several areas of Ambala, Haryana, have been suspended from 6 am on Saturday to 11.59 pm on December 17. 
A statement from the Haryana Department of Home Affairs said, &ldquo;I, Home Secretary, Haryana, do hereby order the suspension of the mobile Internet services (2G/3G/4G/5G/CDMA/GPRS), bulk SMS (excluding banking and mobile recharge) and all dongle services etc, provided on mobile networks except the voice calls in the area of villages Dangdehri, Lohgarh, Manakpur, Dadiyana, Bari Ghel, Choti Ghel, Lharsa, Kalu Majra, Devi Nagar (Hira Nagar, Naresh Vihar), Saddopur, Sultanpur and Kakru in the jurisdiction of district Ambala. All telecom service providers of Haryana are hereby directed to ensure the compliance of this order.&rdquo;
&ldquo;This order is issued to prevent any disturbance of peace and public order in the area,&rdquo; it added.
Authorities however, exempted individual SMSs, mobile recharge, banking SMSs, voice calls, and Internet services from the suspension that began on Saturday and will end on 11.59 pm on December 17.
Questioning the government&rsquo;s stance on the farmers&rsquo; march to the national capital, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher on Saturday asked how a group of 101 farmers walking on foot towards Delhi could be considered a threat to national peace and order. 
On Working President of the All India Kisan Congress and wrestler, Bajrang Punia&rsquo;s decision to join the farmers, Pandher said that they have no problem with a sportsperson or celebrity joining the stir, but want to keep political parties away.&nbsp; 
&ldquo;Only 101 farmers will head towards Delhi today at noon. Every movement has its purpose. Despite the government&rsquo;s efforts and military barriers, our voices have reached 140 crore citizens. The voice of Shambhu and Khanauri is resonating across the country, and the prime minister must respect this voice,&rdquo; Pandher said.
He further questioned, &ldquo;While Parliament discusses the Constitution, do Shambhu and Khanauri follow a different Constitution? How can 101 individuals walking peacefully, pose a threat to peace and order?"
Pandher also expressed concern over the health of farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been on an indefinite hunger strike for 19 days at the Khanauri border.
&ldquo;His condition is critical. The entire country is worried, yet the prime minister seems indifferent,&rdquo; he remarked.
He also stated that they expect to convince farmers from other organizations, who have stayed out of the stir till now, to join the movement.
(With agency input)
&nbsp;

Demand for reforms to improve agriculture sector primary motivation of farmers

‘Delhi Chalo’ foot march stopped at Shambhu border by Haryana police personnel

Police Use Teargas, Water Cannon Against Farmers

‘Delhi Chalo’ foot march stopped at Shambhu border by Haryana police personnel

December 14, 2024 | 13:01 IST