Farmers Protest highlights: ‘Respond more aggressively if they come aggressively,’ says senior officer

Farmers protest: Delhi Police and Security forces officials preparing security arrangements at Singhu Border Delhi-Haryana Border. (Photo by Raj K Raj/ Hindustan Times)

Farmers Protest Highlights: Farmers, pressing for a law on minimum support price for crops, are now marching towards Delhi following inconclusive talks with a team of union ministers. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha have declared the farmers' intent to head to Delhi, intensifying their efforts to persuade the Centre to meet their demands.

Why are farmers protesting?

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha are holding a march to press the Centre to accept their demands, including the enactment of a law to guarantee a minimum support price (MSP) for crops.

The legal guarantee of MSP is the prime reason for the farmers' protest. Apart from this, the farmers have also demanded the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations, as well as farm debt waiver.

Delhi traffic advisory for farmers protest

• Traffic in Delhi-NCR was heavily affected on Tuesday due to barricades at Delhi borders in anticipation of the farmers' march.

• Increased security checks at Noida's borders led to significant traffic disruptions on Tuesday.

• Ghazipur, Singhu, and Tikri borders experienced bumper-to-bumper traffic from 7 am, causing delays.

• Delhi airport issued an advisory for potential disruptions due to the 'Delhi Chalo' march on February 13.

Read in detail: Farmers protest traffic advisory

Delhi Metro gates closed

• Several gates at eight Delhi Metro stations were closed on Tuesday due to the farmers' march to Delhi.

• Stations affected include Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House, Central Secretariat, Patel Chowk, Udyog Bhawan, Janpath, and Barakhamba Road.

• Khan Market metro station also had one gate closed as a precautionary measure on Tuesday.

• Despite gate closures, passengers can use other gates for entry and exit at these stations.

Read in detail: Delhi Metro gates shut

Latest updates on farmers' ‘Chalo Delhi’ march on Tuesday

1. Farmers from Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh are launching a mega protest in the national capital of Delhi to call for a legal guarantee of MSP. The ‘Delhi Chalo’ march was announced last week to urge the Centre to accept their demands.
2. Security has been intensified at the Singh, Tikri and Ghazipur border in Delhi, with cement barricading, metal nails and barriers installed to restrict movement of vehicles and prevent disturbances in the national capital.
3. The Delhi police on Sunday imposed section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code at the Uttar Pradesh borders to prevent mishaps ahead of the farmers' protests on Tuesday.
4. Over 50,000 security personnel have been deployed at the borders in Delhi, and internet and bulk SMS services have been suspended in seven districts - Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad and Sirsa - for February 13.