Chandigarh: Farmers protesting at the Shambhu border in Haryana have decided to postpone their 'Delhi Chalo' foot march for one day after six farmers were injured in a clash with security forces. The farmers, mostly from Punjab, were preparing to march to Delhi to press for their demands, including a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops and a loan waiver.

The clash occurred when farmers tried to break through the barricades set up by security forces at the border. In a meeting with Haryana government officials, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said, “We have called off the ‘jattha’ for now, but the march to Delhi will happen tomorrow. Six farmers have been injured after facing teargas. A lot of damage has been done.”

Pandher also expressed frustration with the government’s response, saying, “We are peaceful protesters. Why treat us like enemies? We are citizens of this country and have made many sacrifices for it.”

He confirmed that the farmers were ready for talks with the Centre, as the government had expressed willingness to negotiate.

The farmers had planned to march towards Delhi on Friday, but the Haryana Police, citing a prohibitory order under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), stopped them. Authorities had also suspended mobile internet services in parts of Ambala district to prevent any disturbances.

Earlier in the day, security forces used at least 50 teargas shells to disperse the farmers as they attempted to climb over the barricades. The farmers, however, pushed forward, removing some of the obstacles like iron nails and concrete blocks that had been set up to prevent them from moving forward.

The Haryana Police, along with paramilitary forces, had set up multilayered barricades and water cannons at the Shambhu border to stop the march. Authorities had also shut down schools in the area as a precaution.

Despite the clash, Pandher reassured the farmers, saying they would continue the protest peacefully and planned to march towards Delhi at 12 noon on December 8.

“We do not want confrontation, but we are ready for talks,” he said.

Meanwhile, Punjab Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) President Aman Arora showed solidarity with the farmers and urged the Central government to address their concerns. He criticised the Haryana government for imposing prohibitory orders, saying, “The Centre has ignored the farmers' concerns, and now the Haryana government is preventing a peaceful march.”

This is not the first time farmers have attempted to march to Delhi. Earlier attempts in February were also blocked by heavy security. Since then, farmers under the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha have been protesting at the Punjab-Haryana border.

IANS