Amarjot Kaur/Gaurav Kanthwa/Amit Bathla
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh/Mohali/Panchkula, June 26
Farmers from Punjab and Haryana submitted memorandums to officials from the Governor house before returning home on Saturday.
Tens of thousands of farmers from Punjab entered Chandigarh after breaking police barricades and facing water cannons. Punjab farmers collected in Sector 17 where they submitted a memorandum to Chandigarh DC, while farmers from Haryana handed over a memorandum to an official from Governor office at Chandigarh entry point.
Farmers coming from the Mohali side were led by farmer leader Balbir Singh Rajewal while protesters from the Haryana side were led by Haryana BKU (Chaduni) leader Gurnam Singh Chaduni and Samyukt Kisan Morcha member Yogendra Yadav.
BKU leader Gurnam Singh Charuni said they will sit peacefully at the entry point if police will not allow them to enter Chandigarh.
The farmers had lined up since Saturday morning in their vehicles alongside Zirakpur roads and Amb Sahib gurdwara in Phase 8 in Mohali awaiting green signal from their leaders to march towards Chandigarh. The police have erected barricades at several places.
Farmers marched from Mohali's Amb Shahib Gurdwara to Chandigarh via YPS chowk at 1 pm. The protesters were carrying farmers union flags on tractors, cars and walking on foot. The farmers raised slogans against the Centre government. En route to Chandigarh, both from Punjab and Haryana, special 'langars' or community kitchens were organised for the protesting farmers by locals.
Heavy traffic jam was witnessed in the city. Many farm activists are coming to Chandigarh in buses.
The Panchkula Police said that they would only allow one delegation of farmers to enter Chandigarh. Farmers have started gathering near the Chandigarh border. Water cannons, trucks, dumpers were deployed at the entry point.
Chandigarh Senior Superintendent of Police Kuldeep Chahal praised the police personnel for handling the situation with patience and maturity and not allowing the situation to go out of hand.
Meanwhile, gangster-turned-activist Lakha Sidhana, who was booked for his alleged involvement in violence that ensued at the Red Fort on Republic Day, could also be seen participating in the farmers' protest programme.
Earlier addressing the gathering at Gurdwara Amb Sahib, Rajewal slammed the Modi-led government over the three farm legislation and alleged that the Central government intended to “hand over farming” to corporate houses.
Independent MLA from Haryana Sombir Sangwan, who was present at Gurdwara Nada Sahib, said the farm laws will “destroy” the farming community.
Farmers have been protesting against the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; Farmers' (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020; and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.
Also read: Farmers to protest at Punjab and Haryana Raj Bhawans in Chandigarh today
The morcha had announced to observe June 26 as “Kheti bachao, loktantra bachao” (save farming, save democracy) day on the completion of seven months of the farmers’ protest and the 47th anniversary of Emergency in India.
— With PTI inputs
View this post on Instagram