Emphasizing that a solution will come through dialogue, Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij on Tuesday appealed to farmers to withdraw their Dilli Chalo call and engage in dialogue. Union Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda is ready for dialogue.
“We have arrangements and won’t let them enter the state. They should come to the table for a dialogue,” the Home Minister added.
Talking to reporters in Chandigarh regarding the farmers' march to Delhi, Vij said that it is the first time the government has come from Delhi to Chandigarh for talks. He questioned whom the framers intended to talk to in Delhi and suggested that it is essential to conduct discussions.
Highlighting that two rounds of talks with central ministers have already taken place, Vij emphasized that the government is not refusing further discussions. He expressed confusion about the farmers' insistence on going to Delhi when talks can happen in Chandigarh. He raised the question of the farmers' true intentions behind going to Delhi.
Regarding security concerns, Vij assured that the state is fully prepared, and they will not let peace be disrupted. When asked about Haryana's borders, he mentioned that officials are vigilant and maintaining control. He stated that solutions come through dialogue, and the government is not shying away from discussions. He reiterated that central ministers are repeatedly calling for talks because agreements can be reached through dialogue on various issues.
The security personnel deployed in the Haryana side also asked a group of youths approaching the border from the Punjab side to stay away from the barricades near the Shambhu border.
Authorities in Haryana have fortified the state's borders with Punjab at many places in Ambala, Jind, Fatehabad, Kurukshetra and Sirsa using concrete blocks, iron nails and barbed wire to scuttle the proposed march.
Riot control vehicles, including water cannons, have also been deployed at many places at Punjab and Haryana borders. Security personnel were keeping an eye through drones as well. The Haryana government has also imposed restrictions under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) in as many as 15 districts, prohibiting the assembly of five or more people and banning any kind of demonstration or march with tractor trolleys.
Protest leads to worst jams in various places in State
The farmers' ‘Dilli Chalo’ protest march on Tuesday caused a significant impact on the traffic situation in many places including Gurugram and the wider Delhi-NCR region.
The Gurugram district administration has also suspended the mobile internet services from Tuesday morning, which has affected the UPI payments and delivery of goods through online purchases. The online booking of taxi services has also hit the metropolitan city. However, the metro train services continued as usual between Gurugram and Delhi. A heavy rush was reported at the metro stations.
The daily commuters between Delhi and Gurugram witnessed major traffic disruptions amid restrictions on vehicular movement, since the morning on all roads.
The Gurugram police managed a controlled traffic movement to Delhi by erecting barricades on the national highway (NH-48). The movement of tractor-trolleys have been restricted on all roads leading to Delhi.
A multi-layered barricading has been enforced at all the Delhi borders in Gurugram district to prevent the protesting farmers from entering the national capital.