Delhi Chalo: The Modi government recently announced the Bharat Ratna for Chaudhary Charan Singh and M.S. Swaminathan, often hailed as champions of farmers.
However, this move seems to have backfired as farmer unions are once again gearing up for protests against the Modi government.
Although the farmers' agitation was called off in November 2021, they are back on the streets after two years.
The United Farmers Front has announced a march to Delhi on February 13th, with the slogan 'Delhi Chalo.'
On Tuesday, there were reports of lakhs of farmers from Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh preparing to march towards Delhi.
Meanwhile, the United Farmers Front has also called for a one-day rural India shutdown on February 16th.
This is not the first time farmers have been protesting. Two years ago, there was a historic farmers' agitation on the borders of Delhi, which forced the Modi government to repeal three contentious farm laws.
The laws in question are the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act.
Farmers feared that these laws could abolish the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and lead to the corporatization of agriculture, putting farming in the hands of corporate companies.
However, farmers had to make significant sacrifices regarding the farm laws. They continued their protest for almost a year. Farmers claim that during this agitation, more than 700 farmers lost their lives, but these claims did not receive much attention from the government or non-governmental platforms.
Two years ago, the government not only repealed the laws but also promised to guarantee MSP.
After this, farmers withdrew their agitation. But now, farmers say that the government has not fulfilled its promise regarding MSP.
Similar to the 2021 agitation, farmers are once again protesting for their various demands. Specifically, they are demanding legislation guaranteeing Minimum Support Price (MSP), which is their foremost demand.
The United Farmers Front states that they want to remind the central government of the promises made two years ago, urging farmers to end their agitation.
Those promises have not been fully fulfilled yet. The government had promised to guarantee MSP. The issue of withdrawing cases against farmers was also mentioned.
In 2021, four Sikh farmers who were protesting against the agricultural laws in Lakhimpur Kheri were allegedly run over by the car of the then Minister of State for Home Affairs, Ajay Mishra Teni.
The farmers are demanding jobs for the families of those killed in the incident and punishment for the culprits.
The United Farmers Front stated, "The government made the biggest promise to farmers according to the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission to guarantee crop prices.
The government honoured M.S. Swaminathan with the Bharat Ratna, but his report has not been implemented. It's worth noting that the Swaminathan Commission's report recommended paying farmers one-and-a-half times the cost of their produce.
The tractor march of the farmers has commenced, with thousands of farmers heading towards Delhi. We are not causing any traffic jams on the way.
The Delhi march is being conducted with full discipline. MSP is a crucial issue. The government has sealed the borders and is conducting continuous arrests.
Our voices are not being heard. Labourers are the biggest force in this country. We have ample experience in breaking barricades. The government is obstructing and troubling the public.
The protesting farmers allege that Karnataka farmers who were on their way to join the Delhi march were arrested in Bhopal by stopping the train. They were also allegedly subjected to physical assault. As a result, one farmer suffered a serious head injury.
In order to prevent the farmers from proceeding, several arrangements have been made at the borders:
Security has been tightened along the boundaries of Delhi in anticipation of the "Delhi Chalo" march by the farmers. The police forces from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Delhi are on high alert. All borders, including Singhu and Ghazipur, have been sealed to stop the march. The border with Punjab has been sealed in Shambhu near Ambala.
In accordance with the protest, police and central forces have been deployed in sections along all border roads. Around 5,000 security personnel have been deployed, and arrangements have been made to block the farmers' path using sharp wires. CCTV cameras and loudspeakers have also been installed.
At the Delhi-Haryana border, eight layers of barriers have been erected. Large barricades made of stones and containers have been placed on some roads. There are also arrangements to control the crowd of farmers by spraying water. Additionally, all activities on social media are being monitored.
An order issued by Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora states that the entry of tractors is prohibited in the capital city of Delhi. Possession of firearms, inflammable substances, bricks, and stones is also banned. Gathering petrol and soda bottles is also restricted.
Additionally, the use of loudspeakers is prohibited for the next month. To maintain law and order in the capital, Section 144 has been imposed across Delhi until March 12th.
Gathering of any kind is prohibited, and those violating Section 144 will be promptly arrested. No one is allowed to break the law.
Meanwhile, the Haryana administration has turned Chaudhary Dalbir Singh Indoor Stadium and Guru Gobind Singh Stadium in Sirsa into temporary jails.
Those engaging in violence can be arrested and held in these temporary jails.
Delhi Police has issued a traffic advisory for all borders of the capital city. Entry of heavy vehicles into Delhi has been restricted. Additionally, light vehicles are advised to use local borders instead of the main border for entering and exiting Delhi.
The opposition is extending its support to the farmers' call for the Delhi march. The opposition accuses the government of trying to suppress the farmers.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has accused the Modi government of deceiving farmers. He wrote on social media, "Modi, who has been lying day and night for 10 years, has only deceived the farmers. By promising double income, Modi has left the farmers waiting for MSP."
Rahul Gandhi further said, "Farmers are crushed under inflation. Due to not getting the right price for crops, their debts have increased by 60 per cent."
