Farmers hold a protest at the Shambhu border during their Dilli Chalo protest. PTI
Patiala, February 20
Ahead of the ‘Dilli Chalo’ march on February 21, the farmer unions have started an appeal drive in the villages on Tuesday asking the supporters to reach the Shambhu border and march along with them to Delhi for their demands.
According to sources, the numbers are likely to swell by evening as hundreds of farmers are joining the protest at Shambhu.
Meanwhile, heavy police deployment in and around Rajpura has been made to manage traffic movement as hundreds of tractor trolleys are expected to reach Shambhu.
Senior police officials from Patiala, including SSP Varun Sharma and SP City Mohammed Sarfaraz Alam, also reached Shambhu to take stock of the security arrangements.
“We are deploying more cops as talks are on with farmer unions to reconsider their decision, but it looks unlikely as they have already announced to proceed to Delhi on Wednesday,” said a senior police official at Shambhu.
After consultations and discussions for the entire day on Monday, the farmer unions rejected the Centre’s proposal for buying three pulses, besides cotton and maize at the MSP.
The farm leaders announced that the ‘Dilli Chalo’ march would proceed on February 21 at 11 am.
“The government has been delaying the issue and unless it gives in writing about the MSP on all 23 crops, we are left with no option but to protest. The government should fix the crop prices as per the Swaminathan Commission report,” said Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta Sidhupur) chief Jagjit Singh Dallewal on Monday.
Backing the decision, Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee general secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher said, “The Centre has been using one ploy or the other to delay the issue and instead of coming to the point and accepting the long-pending and genuine demands of the agitating farmers, there are only assurances and promises.”
He said, “The proposals are not in the interest of farmers."
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