Punjab Farmers to Resume March to Delhi as Protests Intensify Over MSP Demands.
Shambhu, Punjab:
Punjab farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher announced today that a group of 101 farmers will resume their march to Delhi on December 8, despite a violent clash at the Punjab-Haryana border. The farmers, who have been protesting for a legal guarantee on Minimum Support Price (MSP) and other demands, were temporarily halted on Friday after violent confrontations with security personnel.
Pandher, addressing the media at Shambhu on the Punjab-Haryana border, criticized the lack of communication from the Indian government regarding a potential dialogue. He stated that the farmers had not received any message from the Centre to begin talks, further intensifying the frustration among the protesting farmers.
The farmers’ march, which began earlier this week, faced a setback when security forces deployed tear gas to disperse the crowds at the Punjab-Haryana border. As a result, at least 16 farmers suffered injuries, with one of them losing their hearing ability due to the impact of the tear gas shelling.
Pandher condemned the use of force by Haryana security personnel and described the actions as an attack on peaceful protesters. He emphasized that the farmers’ march would continue despite the violence they encountered, and urged the Centre to address their demands immediately.
The ongoing protests are centered around a range of issues, with the primary demand being the legal guarantee for MSP for crops. Farmers claim that the lack of MSP protection leads to unpredictable market prices, putting them at risk of financial loss. The government has yet to engage in formal talks with the farmer unions despite ongoing unrest.
As the standoff continues, the situation at the border remains tense, with more farmers expected to join the protest in the coming days. The fate of the proposed talks remains uncertain, as the Centre has not yet responded to the farmers’ call for negotiations.
