New Delhi: The capital, Delhi, is once again becoming a battleground for protests against the government. During the initial days of the monsoon session, the ‘Cockroach Janata Party’ staged a protest and cornered the government. Now, farmers from Punjab are preparing to march to Delhi once again. Thousands of farmers could once again turn the capital into a hub for their agitation. Today, farmers are gathering at the Shambhu border for this march to Delhi.
This protest is being held in opposition to the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the US and India. The majority of the protesting farmers are from Punjab. On Monday, Gurnam Singh Charuni, President of the Bharatiya Kisan Union, was detained by the Haryana Police while on his way to attend a proposed farmers’ ‘Mahapanchayat’ in Delhi. Security arrangements in the area have now been further tightened.
Section 163 in Force
A large crowd of farmers from Amritsar and Gurdaspur in Punjab is preparing to march to Delhi via the Shambhu border. In view of this, robust security arrangements have been put in place in the area. Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) has been invoked. Barricades have been erected on roads on both sides, and measures have been taken to completely halt vehicular movement.
Convoys of farmers from Amritsar and Gurdaspur are preparing to reach Delhi via the Shambhu border. The farmers are demanding the immediate cancellation of the proposed FTA between India and the US.
The farmers argue that if the agreement with the US is implemented, it will inevitably have a direct impact on Indian agriculture, the dairy industry, and the livelihoods of rural populations. They believe that the entry of foreign products into the market will cause significant losses to domestic farmers. Furthermore, the livelihoods of small farmers could come to a complete standstill.
Multiple Organisations to Join the Protest
Several farmers’ organisations are expected to participate in this protest. Leaders from the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha are also expected to arrive at the site soon. Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher is also part of this movement; his presence is considered crucial to the protest.
The administration has deployed police forces to prevent any untoward incidents. Police personnel equipped with anti-riot gear are present at the site, although their numbers are lower compared to previous farmers’ protests.
Robust Arrangements at Shambu Border
The administration’s security arrangements at the Shambu border make it clear that they do not want to leave any room for error. Meanwhile, farmer organisations maintain that the agitation will continue until the government addresses their demands.
The entire country is keeping a close watch on these developments, as the issue is directly linked to the economic condition of farmers and the nation’s trade policy. All eyes will be on how the situation unfolds in the coming hours.
