The farmers' protest, which had halted on Tuesday, resumed on Wednesday morning, February 14. During the second day of the farmers' 'Delhi Chalo' protest, authorities had to fire tear gas shells and rubber bullets to break up the tension at several border points so they could not access the national capital. Section 144 has been enforced in 15 districts of Haryana in response to the farmers' request for "Delhi Chalo,'' with the deployment of 64 paramilitary troops and 50 state police companies.
Top Developments of Day 2
1. On the second day of protests, Punjabi farmers were gathered near the Shambhu border by Haryana security personnel, who used tear gas against them. The Haryana Police used drones for surveillance. Authorities in Punjab took issue with Haryana's use of drones along the border, claiming that the drones discharged tear gas canisters when they were on Punjab territory. Stones were thrown by farmers in retaliation. The young protesters tried to bring down a drone with kites at the Singhu border. As they made their way towards Delhi, protesting farmers came up with strategies to stop drones releasing tear gas, such as flying kites and using "multani mitti."
2. According to farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, three Union ministers Arjun Munda, Piyush Goyal, and Nityanand Rai will meet with farmer leaders on Thursday at 5 p.m. to discuss their demands. This is the third round of talks in as many days after the meetings on February 8 and 12 ended without a resolution. Farmers have decided to temporarily halt their movement until after the meeting, signaling that their next move will depend on the Center's recommendations. Amid the rallies in Delhi, organization Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda stressed the continued attempts to promote positive engagement with the farmers' organization. He stressed the complexity of the situation and stated his willingness to listen to all points of view while pleading for an atmosphere that is favorable for discussion.
3. In preparation for a farmers' march into the capital, police erected multiple barricades and stopped vehicle traffic at the Singhu and Tikri borders on Wednesday, causing traffic congestion and confusion in the border suburbs of Delhi. At Ghazipur, little movement was allowed but at Singhu and Tikri, traffic came to a complete stop. A portion of a road close to the Singhu boundary was dug up to impede farmers from moving forward. In order to minimise inconvenience, commuters were asked to look for alternative routes. Increased security was seen in the nation's capital, where a large number of people were stationed and barricades were erected at the borders of Haryana and central Delhi. In spite of this, traffic flowed freely on NH-9 and NH-24, whereas the DND Flyway had severe congestion, which prompted authorities to recommend alternative routes. Multiple layers of barricades and obstacles were strategically positioned at Ghazipur, Singhu, and Tikri borders to deter the farmers' march.
4. A circular from the CBSE stated that, because of the continuing farmers' protest causing traffic difficulties, students in Delhi should arrive at their exam centres early tomorrow, when board exams begin. Exams are scheduled to start at 10.30 am, thus all students are advised to attend at their exam centres by 10 am. There will be more than 5.8 lakh students taking the tests at 877 locations throughout Delhi. Children have found it challenging to attend coaching classes due to the restrictions put in place in response to the protest. In order to avoid traffic, some students who own cars are choosing to take the metro, while others are leaving their homes earlier than normal and depending on cars and buses to get to their destinations.
5. In support of the farmers' protest, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has decided to postpone the party's ongoing "Punjab Bachao Yatra" indefinitely. "Shiromani Akali Dal has always stood with and worked for the welfare of farmers and farm laborers," SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal wrote in a social media post. He added that the party's Core Committee would meet in emergency session tomorrow, February 15, at 2:00 PM, at the Chandigarh headquarters to discuss the current state of affairs.
6. The nationwide "Grameen Bandh," which is set for February 16, has the backing of the Jharkhand Congress and Left parties. Rajesh Thakur, the president of the State Congress, has ordered all district officials to back the bandh on Friday. The "Grameen Bandh" has been demanded by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha.
7. BKU Ugrahan and BKU Dakaunda (Dhaner faction) have scheduled a rail roko in Punjab on Thursday from 12 noon to 4 pm in order to show their support for the farmer unions that are protesting at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders in Punjab. The union leaders have informed us that the rail roko will take place at ten locations initially, with the possibility of adding more. "This protest is against the repression by the Haryana government against the farmers of a few unions who had to go to Delhi as part of their Dilli Chalo protest call," said BKU Ugrahan general secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokrikalan. Tear gas shells, rubber bullets, and water cannons have been used against farmers, resulting in injuries.
Also Read: Farmer’s Protest: Delhi Chalo March, Day 1 Recap (vygrnews.com)
Photo: Multiple Agencies
(Inputs from Agencies)
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