With farmers planning a march to Delhi on February 13, the city police on Sunday issued orders prohibiting large gatherings in the northeastern parts of the national capital region.
More than 200 farmers’ unions are planning to march to Delhi on February 13 to urge the Union government to enact a law guaranteeing a minimum support price for agricultural commodities. The farmers also demanded that those whose lands were acquired by the government be adequately compensated and that police cases against protestors be withdrawn.
On Sunday, the Delhi Police issued an order prohibiting large gatherings at all borders between the Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. Orders prohibiting large gatherings have also been imposed in areas under the jurisdiction of the north east Delhi district.
The 144 order also banned vehicles carrying protesters from entering Delhi.
To stop the demonstrations from reaching the national capital, the BJP government in Haryana has sealed the Shambhu border with Punjab in Ambala. The BJP government also ordered that bulk SMS services be suspended till February 13.
The Haryana government has suspended internet services in seven districts from Sunday till February 13.
Meanwhile, Union Ministers Piyush Goyal, Arjun Munda and Nityanand Rai will meet leaders of farmers’ groups Jagjit Singh Dallewal and Sarwan Singh Pandher in Chandigarh on Monday.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann urged the Centre to listen to farmers’ demands instead of setting up “borders between India and Punjab”.
AAP’s Mann said: “They [Haryana government] are installing fencing on the Punjab border. I request the central government to engage in talks with farmers. Please avoid creating an India-Punjab ‘border’.”
