Tensions escalate as farmers gear up to resume their 'Delhi Chalo' protest march from the Punjab-Haryana border today, with authorities estimating a convoy of 1,200 tractors along with thousands of protesters.
Concerns loom over potential disruptions in the capital as Delhi Police remain on high alert, fortifying entry points to thwart any untoward incidents.
The standoff, which has gripped the nation for weeks, comes in the wake of failed talks between farmer representatives and the central government regarding minimum support price (MSP) guarantees.
Despite repeated attempts at dialogue, the impasse continues, fueling the determination of the farmers to press on with their demands.
In a bid to preempt potential chaos, Haryana Police have urged their Punjab counterparts to seize heavy machinery brought by protesters to dismantle police barricades.
Reports suggest that approximately 14,000 farmers have amassed along the border, armed with 1,200 tractor trolleys, 300 cars, and 10 mini-buses, signaling a formidable presence.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has expressed grave concern over the escalating law-and-order situation, attributing it to alleged miscreants masquerading as farmers. In a letter addressed to the Punjab government, the ministry highlighted incidents of stone-pelting and the presence of heavy machinery, including modified bulldozers and earthmovers, at the Shambhu border with Haryana.
As tensions escalate, security measures have been ramped up around Delhi's three border points, with road closures anticipated to cause traffic congestion.
Tikri and Singhu, key entry points on the Delhi-Haryana border, remain heavily fortified with concrete barricades and police presence, while the possibility of shutting down the Ghazipur border looms.
In anticipation of the protest's resumption, prominent farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher reiterated the demonstrators' commitment to peaceful assembly, emphasising their demand for legislative action on MSP for crops.
Pandher's call for a day-long Parliament session to address farmers' grievances underscores the intensifying pressure on the government to heed their demands.
However, amidst the escalating tensions, concerns have been raised regarding the deployment of paramilitary forces in Haryana villages to thwart the farmers' march.
Pandher condemned what he termed as government oppression, urging authorities to uphold constitutional rights and allow the protesters to peacefully proceed towards Delhi.
In a significant development, the Punjab and Haryana High Court issued directives to the Punjab government, urging restraint in allowing large gatherings of farmers and highlighting legal constraints on running tractor-trolleys on highways.
The resurgence of the 'Delhi Chalo' march underscores the deepening resolve of farmers in their struggle for MSP guarantees, setting the stage for yet another showdown between the agitators and the authorities, with the nation's capital bracing for potential upheaval.
