Farmers protest in Delhi-NCR create major public disorder

Farmers from various farmer unions protest in Delhi-NCR (National Capital Region), including the borders of Singhu, Tikri, and Ghazipur. The massive protest of farmers has entered its second day at a large scale in Delhi-NCR.

Farmers began their protest yesterday Feb 13, 2024. However, they protested at border areas near Delhi-NCR, but they vowed to march Delhi-NCR today.

Authorities have heavily secured Central Delhi with anti-riot troops. They have strategically placed metal and concrete blocks limiting access to numerous critical roadways.

The Delhi Police posted at the borders of NCR to maintain law and order in response to the farmers’ “Delhi Chalo” call. A heavy deployment of police and parliamentary forces is in action to secure the national capital borders at Singhu, Tikri, and Ghazipur.

#InPics | Security personnel deployed at Singhu Border as administration beefs up security in view of farmers' 'Delhi Chalo' march.

Track LIVE updates on #FarmersProtest https://t.co/v4X9p78ktV

📸Sanjeev Verma/ HT pic.twitter.com/BwoQuHEUu0
— Hindustan Times (@htTweets) February 14, 2024

The Delhi Metro also restricted passengers’ entry and exit at nine stations by closing some gates for many hours in preparation for the farmers’ march to the national capital.

Following failed negotiations between the government and farmers, police used tear gas to prevent hundreds of farmers from marching in the capital city, Delhi.

Thick clouds of tear gas were used to disperse protestors at the Shambhu border near Ambala. It is at a distance of around 200 kilometers north of Delhi. In addition, police used drones to drop tear gas canisters from the air.

Security arrangements to prevent a march of farmers to the Capital remained in place on Wednesday a day after thousands of protesters faced off with security personnel as they tried to cross layers of barricading at the Shambhu border between #Haryana and #Punjab.… pic.twitter.com/QuWZoqYCi6
— Hindustan Times (@htTweets) February 14, 2024

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Why farmers are protesting again in India?

However, the recent farmers’ protest is called “Delhi Chalo 2.0”. It is a renewal of a two-year-old movement that led the Indian government to abolish new agricultural laws. Their demands are:

A legal assurance from the government to set the minimum support price (MSP) for all crops.

They also demand a full debt waiver, which guarantees the cancellation of all agricultural loans held by farmers.

Establishment of a pension scheme specifically tailored to support agricultural workers in their retirement years.

Implementation of the Swaminathan Commission’s Formula to determine minimum support prices. It would cover the production cost and provide farmers with a 50% profit margin.

Farmers are calling to withdraw all legal cases and charges filed against them during massive protests held in 2020.

The farmer unions Samyukta Kisan Morcha and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha are marching to protest towards Delhi to fulfill their demands. However, their prime demand is the passage of legislation to ensure minimum support price (MSP) for crops.

Meanwhile, Punjab has declared a state of high alert. The Punjab government has also deployed roughly 70% of the state police force to stay alert on duty amid a protest call from farmers.

Delhi Airport issued an advisory regarding probable difficulties caused by the “Delhi Chalo” march on Feb 13, 2024. Traffic at the Ghazipur, Singhu, and Tikri borders is facing massive traffic delays beginning around 7 a.m.