Braving the inclement weather and undeterred by the hurdles created by Haryana Government, Punjab farmers along with their family members, including women and children, riding on tarpaulin-covered tractor trolleys, ration that could last for months, besides other things on Wednesday started gathering and camping at the state’s borders after being halted by the Haryana police en route their ‘Delhi Chalo’ march.
Haryana Government literally placed stumbling blocks in the farmers’ way towards the national capital, as a part of all-India’s ‘Delhi Chalo’ agitation, by placing huge boulders along with double barricading to seal all main entry points from Punjab to prevent the farmers from marching to New Delhi.
Denied entry, hundreds of farmers from far-flung areas of Punjab, including Ferozepur, have started gathering at the inter-state borders, while announcing to sit on dharna right there is stopped from proceeding towards Delhi.
A large number of farmers have reached main entry points into Haryana — including Shambu, Ghanaur, Dera Bassi, Khanauri, Pehowa, and Jakhal.
In fact, farmers stated reaching Dabwali border in Bathinda and Khanauri in Sangrur since Tuesday night. As per reports, Khanauri is expected to witness maximum number of farmers gathering, followed by Doomwali on Bathinda-Sirsa border near Dabwali.
While the Haryana police is allowing movement of vehicles, it is stopping the tractors, vehicles carrying flags of farmers’ associations.
“We have all along been saying that we would stage peaceful protest. We don’t want any confrontation. We only wanted to protest against the farm laws. If they would not allow us to move towards Delhi on Thursday, we would sit on dharnas at the borders,” said Bharti Kisan Union (Ugrahan) president Joginder Singh Ugrahan.
BKU Ekta Dakaunda president Jagmohan Singh Patiala said that the designated routes include Lalru (Chandigarh-Delhi highway), Shambhu (Amritsar-Delhi highway), Patiala-Pehewa, Patiala-Chika, Patran-Khanauri, Munak-Tohana, Ratia-Fatehabad, Talwandi-Sirsa, among others.
“If we are stopped on our way to Delhi, we will start indefinite dharnas right there under the call of ‘Dera Dalo-Ghera Dalo’ programme,” he added.
Protesting against the Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar’s decision to halt the farmers, the farmers put on fire his effigies at no less than 50 places across Punjab. “Khattar’s effigies were burnt for his government’s decision to seal off Haryana's borders, arresting about 80 Haryana farmers, attacking farmers with water cannons to suppress the farmers’ agitation by force,” said Patiala.
The farmers’ leader said that the BJP-led Haryana Government was becoming an obstacle in the way of farmers which is undemocratic.
Patiala said that lakhs of farmers from across Punjab are enthusiastic to travel to Delhi in spite of rains and cold weather conditions. “Their trolleys are waterproof and fitted with speakers. Apart from this, arrangements for rations, fuel, utensils, blankets, tarpaulins and other essential items have also been provided as required…They are ready to leave with two months’ ration and all the necessities,” he added.It has been learnt that farmers from south Malwa region of Punjab would start gathering at Talwandi Sabo on Wednesday night and would move towards Haryana on Thursday. The farmer organizations have planned to reach Delhi via Doomwali and Talwandi-Rori routes in Bathinda and via Sardulgarh in Mansa district.