The farmers marching to present their demands, including compensation for crop failure and a waiver on loans, resumed the march from the Shambhu border on Friday. However, the Haryana Police stopped the march some km from the Shambhu border with barricades and crowd control measures, including tear gas, leading to clashes between the protesters and the authorities.
Some Key Events at the Shambhu Border
Farmers from Punjab were moving towards Delhi to pursue their demands when the protests suddenly turned violent. Farmers tried to push through the police barricades using tractors and throwing stones. In response, the Haryana police fired tear gas shells and water cannons to disperse the crowd. Internet services were suspended in the area to avert the spread of any misinformation.
Farmers’ Demands
- The protesting farmers have raised several demands:
- Compensation for crop damage resulting from natural disasters.
- Waiver of agricultural loans.
- Higher Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops.
- Financial relief for families of farmers who lost lives during the earlier farm law protests.
Government’s Response
In the meantime, the Haryana government has called for calm and reiterated its commitment to solving farmers’ issues. Authorities have urged farmers to resolve the issue through dialogue and negotiations rather than confrontation. However, protest leaders have accused the government of neglecting their issues and pledged to continue their protests.
Reactions from the Public and the Political Context
The farmers’ protests have rekindled the discussions on agricultural reforms and farmers’ rights in India. The demonstrations have been supported by opposition parties and civil society groups, furthering the pressure upon the government. The most recent unrest came in the wake of the presence of hugely damaging protests against the three farm laws, that’s to say, the repeal since early 2021, contributing to persistent grievances within the farming community.
How This Protest Is Making an Impact on the Region
The clash has disrupted traffic on the Punjab-Haryana border, causing massive inconvenience for travelers and freight transport. The shutting down of the internet services also inconveniences the local population and businesses.
Analysts have recounted enfolded protests as bothering considerations for the future challenges in Indian agriculture, which has intervened with crop failures, debt stress, and market uncertainties.
As police managed to temporarily block further advancement, farmers’ unions supposedly threatened to regroup again and continue their agitation until their demands were met.
A meeting of farmer leaders with the state authorities is expected to take place soon; however, whether there will be a settlement to the confrontation is still uncertain.
