Chandigarh-Ambala Highway reopens after 22-Day closure

The Haryana government took down the barriers erected between Ambala and the Chandigarh National Highway even as protesting farmers carried on with their protests at the Punjab-Haryana borders.After being closed for 22 days, the Ambala-Chandigarh Highway is now open again.

Farmers have been staging their 'Dilli Chalo' march for the past 22 days, but have encountered border resistance and been barred from entering the national capital. Since February 13, they have been stationed at various locations along Punjab's border with Haryana, advocating their demands to the central government.The protesting farmers and the Centre have already held at least four rounds of talks about the former's demands but to no avail.

#WATCH | Ambala-Chandigarh Highway re-opens after 22 days amid farmers' protest. pic.twitter.com/pF7CYFDMbD— ANI (@ANI) March 5, 2024

The Haryana border was sealed on February 11

Haryana authorities sealed the state's border with Punjab at Shambhu near Ambala district on February 11, placing concrete blocks, sandbags, barbed wire, and anti-riot vehicles on the road ahead of the farmers' planned 'Delhi Chalo' march on February 13. Iron sheets were installed on both sides of the Ghaggar flyover to prevent protesters from dislodging police barricades. In addition, water cannons and Vajra vehicles were deployed, and the Ghaggar river bed was excavated.

Now, farmers have announced that they will march to Delhi on March 6, and farmers' unions have called for a railway track blockade on March 10 between 12 and 4 p.m.The two farmer leaders stated that the farmers' ongoing agitation will be intensified at the existing protest points and will continue until the government meets their demands.

What are the demands of protesting farmers?

On February 13, various farmer unions began marching towards Delhi in protest of their demands, which included the passage of legislation ensuring a minimum support price (MSP) for crops.The protesting farmers presented the central government with a list of 12 demands. According to the protesting farmers, the centre promised them higher crop prices after which they ended their 2021 protest. At the forefront of their demands is the enactment of legislation ensuring a Minimum Support Price (MSP) for all crops, as advocated in the Swaminathan Commission report.

In addition to MSP assurance, farmers are demanding a comprehensive debt waiver programme and the establishment of a pension scheme for both farmers and farm labourers. Furthermore, they are vehemently opposed to the Electricity Amendment Bill 2020 and call for the reinstatement of the 2013 Land Acquisition Act. This reinstatement would include provisions ensuring farmer consent and compensation equal to four times the collector rate.

In 2020, a large group of farmers from Punjab and the surrounding areas of Ambala gathered at the Shambhu border and broke through police barriers to march to Delhi. Farmers, primarily from Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, staged a year-long protest on Delhi's border points -- Singhu, Tikri, and Ghazipur -- against the three now-defunct farm laws.

Photo Credits: Reuters

(With inputs from agencies)