Farmer organizations postponed the decision to march to Delhi

New Delhi: On Friday, protesting farmers postponed their foot march to Delhi after some farmers were injured due to tear gas shells fired by security personnel at Shambhu Border. Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said that in view of some farmers being injured, we have called back the ‘jatha’ for today. The group of farmers going tomorrow will now go the day after tomorrow.

He said that the group of 101 farmers will move forward once again at 12 noon the day after tomorrow. Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said that the SP of Haryana Police had asked us today what level of talks you want with the central government, so we have told him that we will be ready to talk to any Union Minister and especially the Agriculture Minister of the Central Government.

He said that the SP of Haryana Police has told us that our point will be taken up. So we give the central government one day’s time and postpone our agitation for a day to wait for the improvement in the condition of our injured and talks with the central government. After talks with Haryana police officials, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said, “We do not want a confrontation with the police. Either we should be allowed to go to Delhi or the central government should talk to us.”

Haryana government officials have asked us for a memorandum of demands. Pandher said that we will wait for the talks and review the entire strategy. In Punjab, we have decided that wherever BJP leaders go, they will be opposed peacefully. Many of our farmers have been injured today.

On Friday, a ‘jatha’ of 101 farmers started a march on foot to Delhi from their protest site at the Shambhu border, but were stopped a few meters away by barricading put up by Haryana security personnel. Security personnel fired several rounds of tear gas shells to disperse the protesting farmers.

Farmer leaders claimed that some farmers were injured and were taken to hospital. The Haryana Police has asked the protesting farmers not to move ahead and cited imposition of prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Indian Civil Code.