Farmers’ March to Delhi: Punjab and Haryana High Court’s Verdict Brings Relief

In a significant development, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the Haryana Police to remove the barricades at the Ambala-Patiala border within a week, paving the way for farmers to resume their march to Delhi. The farmer union leaders have welcomed the decision, terming it a positive step towards resolving the ongoing stalemate.

The farmers, who have been protesting at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders with Haryana since February 13, had been demanding permission to march to Delhi to press for their demands, including the legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) for all crops. Guramneet Singh Mangat, the convener of the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KKM), said that the Haryana government had blocked the highway, not the farmers, and that the union would meet on Thursday to discuss the future course of the agitation.

The Haryana Police had barricaded the inter-state border to deter protesting farmers from reaching the national capital. However, the court’s decision has brought relief to the farmers, who had been facing difficulties in reaching Delhi. Ramandeep Singh Mann, a member of the KKM, said that the union had never called off the Delhi Chalo call and would now request the authorities to designate a venue in Delhi to allow them to protest peacefully.

The decision has also been welcomed by traders in Ambala, who had been suffering losses due to the blocked highway. Vishal Batra, the president of the Ambala Cloth Market Association, said that the association had observed a shutdown last week, demanding the reopening of the border. Opposition parties, including the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party, had staged protests in support of the demand.

The farmers’ march to Delhi is expected to resume soon, with the union leaders planning to meet on Thursday to discuss the future course of action. The court’s decision is seen as a significant step towards resolving the ongoing standoff between the farmers and the Haryana government.

Historical Context:

The farmers’ protest in India has been ongoing since November 2020, with farmers demanding the repeal of three farm laws passed by the Indian government. The laws aimed to liberalize the agricultural sector, but farmers feared they would lead to the exploitation of small farmers by large corporations. The protests have been marked by clashes with police, blockades, and sit-ins, with farmers from various states, including Punjab and Haryana, participating in the movement. The Punjab and Haryana High Court’s decision to remove barricades at the Ambala-Patiala border is a significant development in the ongoing standoff between farmers and the Haryana government.

Summary in Bullet Points:

• The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the Haryana Police to remove barricades at the Ambala-Patiala border within a week, allowing farmers to resume their march to Delhi. • The farmers have been protesting at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders with Haryana since February 13, demanding permission to march to Delhi to press for their demands, including the legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) for all crops. • The Haryana Police had barricaded the inter-state border to deter protesting farmers from reaching the national capital, but the court’s decision has brought relief to the farmers. • The farmers’ union leaders plan to meet on Thursday to discuss the future course of the agitation and request authorities to designate a venue in Delhi to allow them to protest peacefully. • The decision has been welcomed by traders in Ambala, who had been suffering losses due to the blocked highway, and opposition parties, including the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party, which had staged protests in support of the demand. • The farmers’ march to Delhi is expected to resume soon, with the union leaders planning to meet on Thursday to discuss the future course of action. • The court’s decision is seen as a significant step towards resolving the ongoing standoff between the farmers and the Haryana government.