Farmers at Delhi-Ambala highway. (Express Photo by A. Aggarwal)Farmers Protest Today Live News Updates: Thousands of Punjab farmers protesting against the Centre’s contentious farm laws ,as part of their ‘Delhi Chalo’ march have entered Haryana. Police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse the farmers who broke barricades, throwing some into the river at the state’s border with Haryana. Two government and a private vehicle was also vandalized on the Jind-Patiala highway.
Farmers are marching towards the national capital in tractors. The Delhi Police has strengthened its presence in border areas of the national capital in view of the protest march. At the Singhu border, the Police stationed trucks filled with sand to stop movement of tractors driven by farmers.
A while back, Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal on Thursday slammed the Haryana government for trying to thwart farmers ‘ ‘Delhi Chalo’ march, terming the attempt as ?Punjab’s 26/11?. “Today is Punjab’s 26/11. We are witnessing the end of the right to democratic protest. @Akali_Dal condemns the Haryana govt & Centre for choosing to repress the peaceful farmer movement,” said Badal in a tweet.
Meanwhile, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Punjab Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar have entered into a war of words on twitter. Shortly after Singh hit out at the BJP-led Haryana government for stopping farmers en route to Delhi, Khattar sternly told him to stop “inciting innocent farmers”. Khattar asked Singh to desist from misleading farmers, pointing out to him that he has already pledged to quit politics if the Minimum Support Price mechanism is ever dismantled.
In response, the Punjab CM said that he was ashamed of Khattar’s response. “It’s the farmers who’ve to be convinced on MSP, not me. You should’ve tried to talk to them before their Dilli Chalo. And if you think I’m inciting farmers then why are Haryana farmers also marching to Delhi,” he said.
Members of Farmers' Union outside Punjab Bhawan on Saturday. (Express Photo by Kamleshwar Singh)
The central government is treating farmers as "enemy of the State", SAD leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal alleged on Thursday, condemning the use of force to stop them from marching towards Delhi in protest against the Centre's farm laws. Badal had resigned from the Union Cabinet in September in protest against three farm sector bills, which later got the President's assent after being passed by Parliament. She was the Union minister for food processing industries. The Centre should not adopt a policy of confrontation with farmers. It should instead talk with them and resolve their grievances, Badal told PTI. "Using force against farmers on Constitution Day has turned the day a 'black day' for 'annadattas' of the country," the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader said.
Farmers from Punjab break police barriers to enter Haryana.
Thousands of Farmers from Punjab have finally entered Haryana after facing water cannons and. Many vehicles were vandalised on the Jind- Patiala highway. Stone pelting was also reported.
The Delhi Police ismonitoring traffic movement on the Delhi-Gurgaon Border as protesters from Punjab head to Delhi. Express Photograph by Tashi Tobgyal.
Shortly after Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Thursday hit out at the BJP-led Haryana government for stopping farmers en route to Delhi, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar sternly told him to stop 'inciting innocent farmers'.
In response, the Punjab CM said that he was ashamed of Khattar's response. 'It's the farmers who've to be convinced on MSP, not me. You should've tried to talk to them before their Dilli Chalo. And if you think I’m inciting farmers then why are Haryana farmers also marching to Delhi,' said Singh
Farmers at Delhi-Ambala highway. More farmers are joining the protest rallies from nearby areas in their tractor trolleys.
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Badal condemned the Haryana government and Centre for choosing to repress the peaceful farmer movement. He said, " Today is Punjab’s 26/11. We are witnessing the end of the right to democratic protest."
Women have gathered on the NH-54.. Bathinda- Dabwali road to protest against the
As they cross Punjab border, farmers have broken Police barriers at Shambu in Haryana
Undeterred by water cannons, blockades and freezing temperatures, thousands of farmers from Punjab and Haryana are marching towards the national capital in tractors, trolleys and other vehicles to protest against the Centre’s contentious farm laws. But why are farmers still protesting despite state passing Bills negating the central agri laws?
Congress leader Manish Tewari tweeted: "Our farmers right to peacefully protest has become punishable with water cannons & police deployments under @BJP4India 's rule! Misleading & cheating them since 6yrs, this govt is now resorting to force against them-this is BJP's way of celebrating #ConstitutionDay!"
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took to Twitter to support the farmer's protests saying the farmers of our country stand firmly against the brutality by Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP government.
Meanwhile, members of 12 trade unions held a demonstration in Thiruvananthapuram today against the Centre's new labour and farm laws.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Thursday lashed out at the BJP-led government in Haryana for stopping farmers from moving towards Delhi, saying the use of "brute force" against them is "totally undemocratic and unconstitutional".
Haryana has completely sealed its borders with Punjab to prevent farmers from entering the state for their 'Delhi Chalo' protest march against the Centre's farm laws.
"Why is @mlkhattar govt in Haryana stopping the farmers from moving to Delhi? The tyrannical use of brute force against peacefully protesting farmers is totally undemocratic & unconstitutional," said Singh in a tweet.
He said farmers have been peacefully protesting in Punjab against the farm laws for two months. "Why is Haryana govt provoking them by resorting to force? Don't the farmers have the right to pass peacefully through a public highway?", Singh asked.
Traffic jam and police deployment at Noida border due to massive protest planned by farmers from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and other parts of India against the new farm laws of the Centre. (Express photos by Gajendra Yadav)
Delhi police is arresting protesters taking shelter in Delhi Gurudwaras. Six protesters from Amritsar were arrested from Gurudwaras Majnu Ka Tila in Delhi last night.
Yogendra Yadav, President of Swaraj India, taken into "preventive custody" along with "10 to 12 others" in Gurgaon after being stopped on his way to Delhi to join the farmers' protest.
Meanwhile, Congress members are protesting in Kolkata in support of all India general strike, which is being held today in different parts of India including Kerala, Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Odisha.
(Express photo by Partha Paul)