CHANDIGARH: Amid escalating tensions between farmers and security forces, protesters have alleged the use of artillery by Haryana police, leading to the blockage of railway tracks and the takeover of toll plazas in Punjab.
The situation has prompted a panel of three Indian ministers to convene talks with farmer leaders in Chandigarh.
This marks the third round of discussions between the protesting farmers and government representatives, following inconclusive dialogues on February 8 and 12. Farmers from Punjab have been stationed at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders of Punjab and Haryana, expressing their intent to march towards Delhi to assert their demands to the Centre.
Gurnam Singh Charuni, a prominent farmer leader, declared that toll plazas in Haryana would be rendered ‘free’ for a duration of three hours on February 16. Additionally, he announced plans for a tractor parade in every tehsil of the state on February 17, along with a collective meeting of all farmers’ organizations scheduled for February 18.
In Chandigarh, farm leaders including Jagjit Singh Dallewal, Sarwan Singh Pandher, and Jarnail Singh arrived for discussions with the Central team composed of Union ministers Arjun Munda, Piyush Goyal, and Nityanand Rai, scheduled to commence at 5 pm.
The protest’s impact extended to transportation, with reports indicating the diversion of several trains along the Delhi-Amritsar route due to farmers obstructing tracks at various locations in Punjab, in response to the Haryana Police’s actions against protesters.
In a show of solidarity, the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Charuni) led by Gurnam Singh announced its support for the ongoing protests and pledged to conduct peaceful demonstrations in Haryana.
The evolving situation underscores the persistence of farmer grievances and the urgent need for constructive dialogue to address their concerns and restore peace along the Punjab-Haryana border.
