Punjab Farmers Begin ‘Dilli Chalo’ March Amid Tightened Security at Borders

Shambhu Border, NH-44, Punjab-Haryana Border: Security has been heightened at the Shambhu border on NH-44 as farmers from Punjab begin their ‘Dilli Chalo’ march to advocate for key demands, including a legal guarantee of Minimum Support Price (MSP), debt waivers, and pensions for farmers and laborers. Prohibitory orders under Section 163 of BNSS have been imposed in Haryana’s Ambala district, restricting gatherings of five or more people, according to authorities.

Additional police forces have been deployed at the Shambhu and Singh borders, while the district administration in Jind also enforces restrictions as farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal continues his fast-unto-death for the 10th consecutive day.

Led by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political), over 100 farmers are marching towards Delhi, with the procession expected to begin around 1 PM today. Similar protests have already disrupted traffic at Noida’s Chilla border earlier this week, causing significant inconvenience to commuters.

The farmers are demanding justice for victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence and compensation for those who lost their lives during the 2020-21 protests. Their calls for the reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act and opposition to electricity tariff hikes have also added momentum to the movement.

The Supreme Court recently remarked on the right to peaceful protests while cautioning against public inconvenience, as the Khanauri and Singhu borders remain vital lifelines for Punjab.