Farmers protest: For nearly three months, the farmers have been up in arms against the new farm laws
New Delhi:
Modified tractors, carrying rations, woollens, essential items and people, passed through Haryana on Thursday evening as thousands of Punjab farmers protesting against the government’s new farm laws, slowly moved closer to Delhi. Undeterred by police barricades, tear gas and water cannons, the farmers have been continuing the march since Thursday morning.
“More than 50,000 farmers will be standing at the Delhi border by today evening,” two farmers’ bodies claimed. Close to midnight, water cannons started up at Haryana’s Sonipat to disperse a small group of Punjab farmers. The day has been replete with clashes — on one occasion the protesters even pitched the yellow iron barricades into the river below while trying to cross a narrow bridge.
The Punjab farmers, who had been camping out at the sealed Haryana border since yesterday, started their march Thursday morning. Most have managed to reach Haryana’s Karnal. The protesters had an intense, two-hour clash with the police on a bridge nearly 200 km from Delhi. As the barricades were thrown into the river, the police responded with tear gas and water cannons, which further enraged the protesters.
For nearly three months, the farmers have been up in arms against the farm laws, aimed at bringing reforms by doing away with middlemen and improving farmers’ earnings by allowing them to sell produce anywhere in the country. The farmers and opposition parties contend that the laws could lead to government stopping the system of buying grain at guaranteed prices, which would leave farmers at the mercy of corporates.
Here are the Live Updates of the farmers’ protest:
Farmers from six states had been planning the “Delhi Chalo” protest for two months against the centre’s new farm laws that. Teargas, water cannons and a large police contingent failed to stop them from crossing over to Haryana en route to Delhi.
“We have enough ration for two and a half to three months,” said Tarpreet Uppal, travelling in a modified tractor that is their lifeline.
Water cannons started up at full spate at Haryana’s Sonepat around 11 pm amid the cold wave as the police tried to disperse a small group of Punjab farmers who would not be dissuaded from their march to Delhi for an anti-farm law protest. The group has been talking to the police through the evening from across a trench and a barricade, requesting passage.
Farmers March To Delhi Defying Barricades, Tear Gas, Water CannonsModified tractors, carrying rations, woollens, essential items and people, trundled through Haryana in the chilly winter evening as thousands of Punjab farmers protesting against the Centre’s new farm laws, slowly moved closer to Delhi, undeterred by police barricades, tear gas and water cannons. “More than 50,000 farmers will be standing at the Delhi border by today evening,” two farmers’ bodies claimed. Close to midnight, water cannons started up at Haryana’s Sonipat to disperse a small group of Punjab farmers. The day has been replete with clashes — on one occasion the protesters even pitched the yellow iron barricades into the river below while trying to cross a narrow bridge. Leaders in Punjab and Haryana, meanwhile, sparred on Twitter over the issue.
