Bharat Bandh called by farmers’ unions today, no breakthrough in talks with Centre
NEW DELHI,FEB 16: Several farmers’ unions have called for a ‘Bharat Bandh’ as their protest entered day four today. Large gatherings have been banned in Delhi and its national capital region (NCR) as Section 144 has been imposed. Farmers have vowed to intensify the stir, with the Noida-based Bharatiya Kisan Parishad extending support to the nationwide strike.
A five-hour marathon talk between leaders of protesting farmers’ unions and three Union ministers saw no breakthrough on Thursday. Another round of discussion is scheduled for Sunday (February 18).
The ‘Bharat Bandh’, which has already started at 6 am, will remain in effect till 4 pm. The protesting farmers will be participating in a massive ‘chakka jam’ across major Indian roads from 12 pm to 4 pm.
Here are the latest developments of Bharat Bandh
Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal told India Today that paramilitary forces deployed at the Delhi, Punjab and Haryana borders are “provoking” them. “We are not Pakistani,” he added, following talks with the Centre on Thursday. He also said that the farmers hope there is a solution and their stir will intensify, stressing they still “plan to go to Delhi”.
Punjab Chief Minister and AAP leader Bhagwant Mann expressed solidarity with the protesting farmers, and criticised the use of drones and putting up of barbed fences on the state’s borders with Haryana. He also criticised the snapping of internet services in three Haryana districts.
The Centre and farmer unions held the third round of talks on Thursday. The two previous rounds of dialogue happened on February 8 and 12 before the farmers’ ‘Delhi Chalo’ agitation began on Tuesday (February 13).
Farmers from Punjab started their march to the national capital on February 13, but were stopped by security personnel at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders between the state and Haryana. The protesting farmers have been camping at these border points since then. Protesting farmers from Uttar Pradesh and Haryana also began their march to Delhi on Tuesday and have met with heavy security curbs.
Tear gas shells and water cannons were used on protesting farmers by Haryana Police at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders on February 13. Farmers, primarily from Punjab, had clashed with Haryana Police at both the border points as they attempted to break the barricades to continue their march to Delhi.
Traffic has been hit severely amid the farmers’ stir in Delhi-NCR. The Gautam Buddh Nagar Police on Thursday said restrictions under CrPC Section 144, including a ban on unauthorised public assemblies, have been imposed across the district in view of the Bharat Bandh.
Delhi Traffic Police have issued an advisory amid the farmers’ protest, detailing several alternative routes for commuters to take. Police have urged citizens to take metro services to avoid inconvenience as heavy security has been deployed at Delhi’s borders amid farmers’ protest.
Delhi Police has also imposed Section 144 CrPc across the national capital until March 12 in view of the farmers’ protest. Entry of tractors into the national capital, carrying guns and inflammable substances as well as makeshift weapons such as bricks and stones, and the collection of petrol cans are also prohibited. Loudspeakers are also banned during this period.
After their talks with the Centre on Thursday, farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal told reporters that the Union ministers assured the restoration of several social media accounts of farmer union leaders allegedly suspended amid the protest.
The Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) and the BKU Dakaunda (Dhaner) gave the ‘rail roko’ (stop the trains) call in retaliation for the use of tear gas shells and water cannons on protesting farmers by Haryana Police. Meanwhile, on the call of SKM, farmers also staged demonstrations at many toll plazas in Punjab. They also forced toll authorities to let go of commuters without charging them a toll fee.
-PTI
