Protesting farmers are set to march towards Delhi today to assert their various demands to the central government, leading to increased security measures at the Punjab and Haryana borders. The Kisan Mazdoor Morcha and the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, the two umbrella bodies spearheading the farmers’ protests, issued a call on March 3 for farmers from across the country to converge on the national capital. Additionally, they have planned a nationwide “rail roko” protest next week lasting four hours to advocate for their demands, including a legal guarantee of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops by the Centre.
The farmers have maintained a presence at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana after their “Delhi Chalo” march was halted by security forces on February 13. While protesters from Punjab and Haryana will persist at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points, farmers and laborers from other states are urged to join the movement in Delhi today.
In a bid to escalate the agitation, farmer leaders have called for a nationwide ‘rail roko’ protest on March 10, spanning from 12 pm to 4 pm. Furthermore, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) has declared a ‘Kisan Mahapanchayat’ in Delhi on March 14, with the participation of over 400 farmers’ outfits to exert pressure on the Centre to meet their demands.
In response to these developments, the Delhi Police has heightened its vigilance at the Tikri, Singhu, and Ghazipur borders, anticipating the farmers’ protest. Additional police and paramilitary forces have been deployed at railway and metro stations, as well as bus stands. Authorities have announced intensified security checks at various locations, warning of potential traffic congestion in the capital.