“Farmers’ ‘Dilli Chalo’ March: Haryana Braces with Sealed Borders and Suspended Internet – Another Headache Looms”
Haryana Seals Borders and Suspends Internet Ahead of ‘Dilli Chalo’ Farmers’ March”**In preparation for the upcoming ‘Dilli Chalo’ march by farmers, the Shambhu border on the Punjab-Haryana border has been sealed, with additional deployment of BSF and RAF personnel. In a proactive measure, the Haryana government has ordered the suspension of mobile internet and bulk SMS services in seven districts from 6 AM on February 11. DCP Arshdeep Singh cited the farmers’ movement as the reason behind sealing the border.
Multiple farmer organizations have declared a ‘Delhi Chalo’ march slated for February 13, aiming to intensify pressure on the government to address several grievances. These demands encompass a wide range of issues, including the enactment of legislation guaranteeing a minimum support price (MSP) for crops, the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations, provision of pensions for farmers and laborers, debt relief for farmers, withdrawal of police charges, and justice for victims of the Lakhimpur Kheri violence.
The history of farmer protests adds depth to the current situation. In 2020, a significant number of farmers mainly from Punjab and nearby regions, notably Ambala, converged at the Shambhu border, breaching police barricades in their determination to march towards Delhi. Primarily originating from Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, these farmers sustained a year-long protest at Delhi’s border points—Singhu, Tikri, and Ghazipur—demanding the repeal of the contentious farm laws, which have since been withdrawn.