Hundreds of farmers marching from Punjab were halted at the state's border with Haryana near Ambala, approximately 200 kilometers away from Delhi. Security forces used tear gas to disperse the protestors, and the Delhi Police are determined to prevent their entry into the national capital.
Several farmers' unions, including the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), have called for a Gramin Bharat Bandh or nationwide strike to press for their demands before the Centre. The day-long protest, scheduled from 6 am to 4 pm, aims to bring together like-minded farmer organizations in a unified demonstration.
Transportation, agricultural activities, MNREGA rural works, private offices, village shops, and rural industrial and service sector institutions are likely to remain closed. Emergency services such as ambulance operations, medical shops, and student travel for board exams are expected to continue uninterrupted. Farmers demand a law guaranteeing a Minimum Support Price (MSP) for their produce, alongside other measures such as strengthening the MGNREGS and reinstating the old pension scheme.
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A joint statement by public intellectuals and artists extends support to the farmers' strike, emphasizing the unity between workers and farmers against government policies. The ongoing 'Dilli Chalo' protest sees farmers camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders of Punjab and Haryana, seeking to march towards Delhi, reminiscent of the 2020 farmers' protest that lasted from August 2020 to December 2021.
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