Bharatiya Kisan Union Ekta Sidhupur leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal on Sunday night urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Haryana government to allow farmers protesting the interim India-US trade deal to move towards Delhi. He said they planned to walk peacefully in a small group.
A group of farmers reached the Khanauri border between Punjab and Haryana and spent the night there. They put out their bedding on the roadside after being stopped from moving ahead.
Haryana Police had put up heavy barricading at the Khanauri checkpoint to prevent the farmers from entering Haryana and proceeding towards Delhi.
“It is well past midnight and farmers can be seen sleeping along the roadside. Only a small number have reached here so far,” Dallewal said. He said the organisation could bring thousands of farmers to the border but had decided to keep the march limited and peaceful. “We want to move ahead on foot with a small group,” he said.
Dallewal said the farmers had started walking towards Delhi but were stopped by authorities and were now stuck at the border.
“We have no dispute with the Haryana government. I appeal to the Haryana government and Prime Minister Modi to allow us to proceed,” he said.
He said the farmers were also seeking a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP), waiver of farm loans and implementation of the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission.
Dallewal said the interim India-US trade deal was an important issue for the protesting farmers. He stressed that a law guaranteeing MSP, debt relief for farmers and implementation of the Swaminathan Commission report were among their major demands. He also sought intervention from the courts to help resolve the issue.
“The government needs to address these demands. Prime Minister Modi should understand the pain and difficulties faced by farmers,” Dallewal said. He added that the Punjab and Haryana High Court and the Supreme Court could take up the matter and help find a way forward.
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