20,000 Farmers May Join ‘Delhi Chalo’ Protest; Section 144 Imposed At UP Borders

New Delhi: As another farmers’ agitation looms, Delhi Police on Sunday imposed section 144 at the Uttar Pradesh borders to ensure maintenance of law and order.

As per an intelligence report from Delhi Police, accessed by Aajtak/India Today TV, 15,000 to 20,000 farmers will march towards Delhi on 2,000 to 2,500 tractors to participate in the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march being organised by 200 farmers’ unions.

Police are determined to prevent a repeat of January 26, 2021, when protesting farmers clashed with cops in the national Capital.

“Information has been received that some farmer organisations have given a call to their supporters to gather/march to Delhi on 13th February for their demands of the law on MSP and others. They are likely to sit at the border of Delhi till their demands are met. In order to avoid any untoward incident and to maintain Law & Order, a precautionary Order of section 144 Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, is required to be issued to save the lives and property in the area,” Delhi Police said in an order.

The gathering of people will be prohibited at all borders between Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, and nearby areas in the jurisdictional area of north-east district.

“Prohibit entering of Tractors, Trolleys, Buses, Trucks, commercial vehicles, personal vehicles, on horses etc, carrying protestors in Delhi from Uttar Pradesh. Order that the North East District Police shall make all efforts to prevent protestors from entering Delhi,” the order stated.

“Order that no person / protestor shall be allowed to bear arms, including firearms, swords, trishul, spears, lathi, rods etc. North East District Police shall make all efforts to detain these persons at the spot. Order that any person found to be acting in contravention to this order shall be liable to be punished under section 188 of the India Penal Code, 1860,” added the order.

Arrangements are also being made to seal Punjab-Haryana borders in Ambala, Jind and Fatehabad districts ahead of ‘Delhi Chalo’ march.

What Are Farmers’ Demands?

The farmers, whose prolonged protests had forced the Central government to take back the agriculture laws in 2021, are now demanding a law guaranteeing a minimum support price (MSP).

It was among the conditions farmers had set while agreeing to withdraw their agitation three years ago.

Farmers are also demanding implementation of Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations, pensions for farmers and farm labourers, farm debt waiver, withdrawal of police cases and justice for victims of the Lakhimpur Kheri violence.