Thousands of farmers who were marching towards Delhi as a part of their Delhi Chalo movement against the Centre’s contentious farm laws have been allowed to enter after massive showdown and clashes with the police at the border with Haryana in morning. Even after the police announced that farmers could enter the city, water cannons sprays and tear gassing continued to control the crowd.
Farmers’ organisations said they had been given safe passage into Delhi and allowed to protest at a ground in Burari near the capital’s outskirts. The police have removed barricades at Shambhu border between Haryana and Punjab, near Ambala as farmers have been allowed to enter Delhi. Ambala SP, Rajesh Kalia told news agency ANI nobody will be stopped, commuters can travel with ease.
The Delhi police will escort farmers to the protest site in Burari. Farmers carrying food and essential supplies have been trying to enter Delhi as a part of their Delhi Chalo movement since the protest started. They were lathi charged, water cannons were used against them and several rounds of tear gas were fired to contain the crowd in the outskirts of Delhi. The farmers were seen throwing bricks at police personnel and some were seen throwing barricades in the river. Several farmers were injured and taken to hospitals at a border point called Singhu.
Meanwhile, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has said the Central government is always ready for talks. He appealed all farmers to directly talk to the Centre for all their legitimate issues.