Farmers marching towards Delhi call for “ceasefire” before planning to try again tomorrow following clashes with police.

Thousands of farmers from Delhi and neighboring states attempted to march towards the national capital, encountering resistance from the police at every state border. The Haryana police went to great lengths to prevent them from entering the state, using drones, water cannons, cement barriers, sandbags, and tire deflators.

The farmers assert their readiness for a prolonged protest, equipped with six months’ worth of supplies and fuel, and remain determined to stay until their demands are met. Amid unsuccessful negotiations with a team of Union ministers, the farmers embarked on the “Delhi Chalo” march, citing the government’s failure to fulfill commitments made two years earlier.

Their demands include a guaranteed Minimum Support Price (MSP) for all crops, farm loan waivers, and the implementation of Swaminathan Commission recommendations. The farmers accuse the government of merely prolonging discussions without any genuine intention to address their concerns.

Delhi has been heavily fortified, with the police implementing prohibitory orders, erecting concrete roadblocks, and scattering nails on the roads to deter large gatherings at the border. Additionally, the Delhi government has clashed with the central government over the establishment of a “holding area” for the farmers within the city.

The situation remains tense as the prohibitory orders are expected to remain in place for a month, with the Delhi Police imposing restrictions on the movement of vehicles across the border.