Farmers Gather at Mohali-Chandigarh Border for Protest; Demands MSP, Debt Waiver – News18

On the eve of the third anniversary of the anti-farm laws protest, farmers from Punjab and Haryana and their unions have flocked to the Mohali-Chandigarh border with around 3000 vehicles to kick start a three-day-protest launched by the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) to push for their pending demands.

Hundreds of tractor-trollies, mini buses, and buses were seen gathering at the border along Phase-11 in Mohali and the IISER Chowk Road demanding a legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) among other demands. Along with transporation, farmers carried a cargo of essential items such ration, bedding, utensils, cooking gas, and cylinders for the three-day protest.

Bharti Kisan Union (Lakhowal) general secretary Harinder Singh Lakhowal said hundreds of farmers have already reached the protest site and many still on their way on tractors.

“Through this protest, we are raising a demand that the loans or debts of farmers be written off at the earliest. The same was promised by the central government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and some state governments, too, made similar commitments,” spoke news agency ANI with one of the farmers.

The Panchkula Police Commissioner has cited Punjab and Haryana high court orders that has warned farmer unions not to block traffic at public places or roads. The blockade will be considered as contempt of the court, reported India Today.

DEMANDS OF THE FARMERS

• Legal guarantee and extension of MSP in accordance with Swaminathan Commission report.
• Withdrawal of cases against farmers protesters and against those who burn paddy.
• A provision of providing pension of Rs 10,000 per month to farmers aged 60 and above.
• Action against union minister Ajay Misra in the Lakhimpur Kheri case.
• Compensation to the families of farmers who died during the protest.
• Free electricity supply and withdrawal of Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2022.
• Compensation to the farmers incase there crops get damaged by floods or pest attacks.

3 LAYER SECURITY IN CHANDIGARH

The Punjab and Chandigarh Police have beefed up security near the Mohali-Chandigarh border erecting barricades and stationing water cannons.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Amandeep Brarar spoke with ANI that they have completed all there arrangements. “We knew that for three days, farmers would sit on the Mohali-Chandigarh border. Considering this, the Mohali police, along with the Chandigarh administration, have deployed security here along with water cannons and a fire brigade,” said Brarar.

Around 800 police personnel, along with jawans from paramilitary forces are deployed to keep vigil with thousands of farmer who are turning up on the Main Road adjoining Mohali Golf Range and Railway track, Phase-XI.

Apart from the 800 police personnel, 6 DSPs along with 8 inspectors have been deputed for maintaining the law and order situation, quoted Indian Express as saying SSP (UT) Kanwardeep Kaur. z

According to a report from India Today, the first layer of security will comprise Chandigarh police jawans, the second layer will be managed by the Rapid Action Force (RAF), while riot control vans and water cannons will be positioned at strategic locations for the third layer, managed by paramilitary forces.

TRAFFIC ADVISORY IN CHANDIGARH

The Chandigarh Police in a traffic advisory said the roads from Faidan barrier on Purv Marg leading towards the Shaheed Bhagat Singh international airport in Mohali will be closed temporarily in view of the stir till November 28.

Police advised commuters going towards the airport, Aerocity, and Bestech Mall to take a right from the Faidan barrier and then a left from the Sector 46,47,48, and 49 chowk straight towards Airport Road in Mohali.

The Mohali Police in its traffic advisory said that the traffic on Jagatpura sector 48-49 traffic lights to Bawa White House stretch has been suspended till November 28.

(With PTI Inputs)