Haryana-Punjab border sealed ahead of farmers' 'Delhi Chalo' march, internet suspended

Haryana-Punjab border sealed ahead of farmers’ ‘Delhi Chalo’ march, internet suspended

Ahead of the farmers’ proposed ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest march on February 13, the BJP government in Haryana on Saturday suspended mobile internet, bulk SMS and all dongle services in seven districts – Jind, Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Fatehabad, Hisar and Sirsa.

The government has also sealed off the Punjab-Haryana border in Ambala, Fatehabad and Jind in a bid to stop the farmers from reaching the national capital on February 13.

More than 200 farmer unions are likely to take part in the ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest march, which has been jointly called by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha.

In a stark reminder to the 2020 farmers’ protests against the three farm bills, the farmers are heading towards the national capital with all the essential items, including ration and gas cylinders.

According to reports, the Ambala-Shambhu, Khanauri-Jind and the Dabwali borders which the farmers were planning to use for heading towards Delhi have been sealed. The Police in Haryana has said that it will not allow farmers to enter the state.

The authorities have made several emergency arrangements, including concrete blocks, barbed wires and barricades to stop the farmers at near the Haryana border.

Additionally, as many as 50 companies of paramilitary forces have also been deployed in the three entry points.

Meanwhile, a delegation of the Modi government comprising three ministers, including Piyush Goyal have been rushed to Chandigarh to meet farmer leaders.

The government representatives have already met the farmers and a second round meet was also promised to them. However, the farmers have said that their Delhi Chalo March will go ahead as per the plan.

The farmers are demanding “justice” for Lakhimpur Kheri violence victims, full implementation of the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations, legal minimum support price guarantee, farm loan waivers and pension for farmers.