Tear gas shells fired to disperse farmers at Shambhu border; Delhi under tight vigil

On the second day of their 'Delhi Chalo' march, the protesting farmers clashed with police on the Shambhu borders, resulting in drones being used to drop tear gas shells. 

Hundreds of farmers, under the banner of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, who were marching towards Delhi were stopped by security forces at the Shambhu border, which is almost 200 km from their destination.

Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda told reporters on Wednesday that efforts will continue to speak to farmers unions in a constructive and positive manner.  He urged farmer groups to have a structured discussion with the government on the issue. 

To this, Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee general secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher said all the farmers were asking was a legal guarantee. "There are reports in the media that the MSP guaranteeing law can not be formed so soon. All, we are saying is to give us a legal guarantee on that (MSP) so that we don't sell crops below that MSP. So, there is no question of a committee. We would want the PM to step forward and speak with the farmers," he told ANI.

The farmers from Punjab clashed with Haryana Police at two border points between the states on Tuesday in their bid to breach the barricades. However, authorities continued to put up roadblocks with more concrete slabs erected at the Tikri border. 

The farmers, under the banner of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, are agitating seeking a law on minimum support price for crops and loan waivers. Other demands include implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's formula, full debt waiver for farmers, pension for farmers and labourers and withdrawal of cases against farmers during the 2020-21 protest.   

Traffic goes haywire

Traffic was affected in the border areas of Delhi on Wednesday as police erected several layers of barricades and stopped the movement of vehicles at the Singhu and Tikri borders in view of farmers' proposed march to Delhi. 

While Singhu and Tikri borders with Haryana have been entirely closed for traffic, vehicular movement is still allowed at the Ghazipur border in a regulated manner. 

A section of a road in a village near the Singhu border was dug up to prevent the farmers' march to Delhi. Apsara and Ghazipur borders with Uttar Pradesh are open for traffic but there is a heavy security deployment at both.

(With PTI inputs)