With the deployment of additional police forces, Haryana Police on Wednesday sealed its borders with Punjab to prevent farmers from entering the State in response to the onward ‘Delhi Chalo’ march against the Centre’s new farm laws.
Talking to ‘The Pioneer’ over the phone, State Director General of Police (DGP) Manoj Yadava said that State borders with Punjab and Delhi have been sealed with the deployment of State Police force and Centre’s Rapid Action Force (RAF) to maintain law and order in the State. Four companies of Rapid Action Force (RAF) were received from Central Government and deployed at Sirsa, Ambala, Punjab border at Jind and Delhi border at Sonepat. 14 additional State police companies have also been deployed along the State borders with Punjab and Delhi, he added.
Yadava further said that about 73 farmer leaders were arrested so far as a part of precautionary measures in view of farmers' Delhi chalo march. Prohibitory orders were enforced to avoid any untoward incident in the State. Stern action will be taken against those found violating the orders, DGP said, adding that Police forces have been ordered to be vigilant in all the areas sharing border with Punjab including four major national highways from Haryana to Delhi. These will include Ambala-Delhi, Hisar-Delhi, Rewari-Delhi, Palwal-Delhi Highways.
COPS USE WATER CANNONS ON ANTI-FARM LAW PROTESTORS IN AMBALA
Farmers affiliated with the Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) from Ambala, Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra, Karnal and Kaithal, gathered outside the New Grain Market in Ambala Cantonment near Mohra village on National Highway 44. When they tried to move forward to register their protest against the farm laws, which they dubbed as anti-farmer, police personnel tried to stop them. Following this, there was a confrontation between the farmers and the police. Later farmers broke barricades. However, when some farmers tried to cross the barricade, police used water cannons to disperse them.
Police and a company of the RAF stood guard, while senior police officials tried to convince the farmers to call off the march to the national capital on Thursday. Instead, farm union leaders started a protest against the impounding of a tractor and the arrest of their activists.
Addressing the crowd, BKU state Chief Gurnam Singh Charuni said, “The police have to release our activists and the vehicle.
We will march towards Delhi, breaking the barricades.” Some farmers said they have been making arrangements for food and fuel for Punjab farmers. Later farmers marched towards Kurukshetra.
HARYANA CM APPEALS TO FARMERS TO WITHDRAW CALL OF ‘DELHI CHALO'
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar appealed to the farmers to withdraw the Delhi Chalo march. Talking to reporters, Khattar said that he has already assured the farmers that the State Government would continue to procure Bajra, Mustard, Moong, Sunflower seed etc along with Wheat and Rice on Minimum Support Price and would also set up additional mandis for their convenience. He said that there are few people who always try to misguide them for their vested interests and farmers need to be aware about such elements. He called the protest meaningless as the new laws are pro-farmer, while opposition parties pointed that the arrest of farmer leaders by Haryana police shameful and the Haryana Police are issued an advisory, asking people to modify their travel.
BUS SERVICES SUSPENDED ON NOV 26-27
Haryana Transport Department has decided to suspend operations of Haryana Roadways buses for Punjab for two days on Thursday and Friday in view of farmers’ Delhi Chalo march. The Union Territory administration too has decided to suspend all Chandigarh Transport Undertaking (CTU) bus operations in and out of Haryana. The official spokesperson said that the CTU operation in Punjab and Himachal may get affected as well.
FARMERS COORDINATION COMMITTEE CONDEMNS SEALING OF BORDERS
Haryana Chapter of All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC)—a joint platform of several farmers’ outfits—has strongly objected to the Khattar government’s act of sealing all border points in the state—leading to Delhi and Punjab in order to check the farmers from going to Delhi on November 26 and 27 to protest against three farm laws.It is a bizarre paradox, that the state is acting at the behest of the Center Govt to suppress the farmers’ agitation by dictatorial methods. The government should not remain under any false illusion that it would succeed.
The only democratic option is to withdraw three black laws that can resolve the farmers’ agitation. We appeal to all political parties to express solidarity with the farmers by condemning the state government for its anti-national act of sealing the borders", said, a leader of AIKSCC, Inderjit Singh. He also sought an answer from Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala for the government’s action against the farmers’ agitation.
“Dushyant claims himself to be a big well-wisher of the farmers, but why he is keeping mum when the farmers are being suppressed by the police at the instance of his government which is supposed to ensure smooth movement of farmers on the highway but it is blocking highways and obstructing the people from coming to Haryana and going to Delhi. This is not only a violation of fundamental rights of the people but anti-national as well,” said Singh.