- By Shivam Shandilya
- Fri, 06 Dec 2024 11:34 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Farmer Protest Live Updates: The farmers in Punjab have resumed their ‘Dilli Chalo’ march from the Shambhu border, prompting the Ambala administration to enforce prohibitory measures to prevent large gatherings. Due to the march to Parliament scheduled for 1 pm on Friday, the traffic may see slow movement as the security at the Shambhu border on NH-44 has been significantly increased. It is expected that the residents of Delhi-NCR may face traffic jams due to the police barricading across the city.
“Delhi Police is on alert and security has been tightened at the border points of the city. A skeletal deployment has been made at the Singhu border but it may increase as per the situation at the Shambu border on the Punjab-Haryana border," news agency PTI quoted a senior police officer as saying.
Meanwhile, the Ambala district administration has already issued an order under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), restricting any unlawful assembly of five or more persons in the district.
According to the order issued by the deputy commissioner, any procession on foot, in vehicles, or by other modes has been prohibited till further orders. The Ambala authorities ordered the closure of all the government and private schools in the district.
"The government and private schools will remain closed on Friday," District Education Officer Ambala Suresh Kumar said.
A multilayered barricading is already in place at the Shambhu border point—Rajpura (Punjab)-Ambala (Haryana)—on National Highway-44.
The Ambala deputy commissioner-cum-district magistrate, in an order dated November 30, prohibited unlawful assembly of five or more persons and taking out any procession on foot, in vehicles, or through any other mode.
"It is apprehended that a large number of protesters are likely to come from Punjab and Haryana and assemble at the Shambhu border to move towards Delhi.
"Hence, appropriate steps need to be taken at the border points and within the district, including issuance of prohibitory orders under Section 163 of BNSS so as not to allow movement of any such person without prior permission," the order read.
The first jatha, according to the farmer, will be led by farmer leaders Satnam Singh Pannu, Surinder Singh Chautala, Surjit Singh Phul, and Baljinder Singh. The jatha will carry only essential items with them.
The farmers are gathered under the banner of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha and have been camping at Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13 after their march to Delhi was stopped by security forces. Meanwhile, SKM leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal continues to be on his fast-unto-death at the Khanauri border point.
Besides MSP, the farmers are also demanding a farm debt waiver, a pension for farmers and farm labourers, no hike in electricity tariffs, withdrawal of police cases (against farmers), and "justice" for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence. Reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, and compensation to the families of farmers who died during the previous agitation in 2020-21 are also part of their demands.
(With input from agencies)