Farmers foot march: Haryana seals Khanauri inter-state border point

Khanauri: Haryana Police have set up multi-layer barricading along the inter-state border point here on Sunday and sealed it as farmers under the banner of SKM (Non-Political) gathered to enter Haryana through the Khanauri-Data Singh Wala border.

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) had given a call for a 228-km 'Kisan Bachao Padyatra' from Data Singh Wala village on the Haryana-Punjab border to Jantar Mantar in Delhi, which would culminate in a farmers' panchayat in the national capital on August 29.

The foot march has been planned against the proposed India-US trade deal and to press for a legal guarantee for procurement of crops at the minimum support price (MSP).


In the wake of SKM (Non-Political)'s call, the Haryana Police have made tight security arrangements at the Haryana-Punjab border.

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On the Haryana side of the Khanauri inter-state border point, authorities have put up concrete barricades, positioned riot control vehicles, while barbed wire has also been installed.

A police official from Jind district on Sunday said the farmers do not have permission for the march.

SKM (Non-Political) leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal told reporters at the Punjab side of the inter-state border that 51 farmers from different parts of the country would participate in the march.

The foot march, he said, would remain completely peaceful and disciplined.

Around 200 volunteers and supporters of the SKM (Non-Political) would also accompany them.

When asked about the security arrangements in Haryana, Dallewal said, "This barricading has exposed the BJP government. On earlier occasions, they had a problem when farmers came with tractors. Now, when only a small group of farmers wants to march on foot to go to Delhi, they still have a problem and are not allowing us to proceed. This exposes the anti-farmer face of the government."

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"Our plan was to proceed peacefully, but they have put up such heavy barricading. Everyone should now know that it is not the farmers who block the roads, but the government," he said.

Dallewal also claimed that Haryana Police detained some leaders of the outfit at different places ahead of the march which was to start from Khanauri.

About the proposed India-US trade deal, he said it will have an adverse effect on Indian farmers and the farming sector.

He claimed that the proposed trade deal would allow cheaper agricultural imports into India, affecting domestic farm incomes and the country's agricultural economy.

Dallewal said the government feels that if they reach Delhi, they will raise questions about the trade deal to which they will have no answer.

According to the SKM (Non-Political), the planned march would begin from Data Singh Wala, and pass through Narwana, Uchana, Khatkar Toll, Jind, Ludana, Gohana, Israna, Samalkha and the Singhu border before reaching Jantar-Mantar.

Among the key demands of the march are keeping agriculture, dairy, poultry, fisheries and other allied sectors out of the proposed India-US trade agreement and enacting a law to guarantee procurement of all crops at MSP based on the Swaminathan Commission's C2+50 per cent formula.

The farmers are also demanding measures to free farmers from debt, an increase in the fair and remunerative price (FRP) of sugarcane, implementation of written assurances given by the Centre during talks with farmer organisations, and withdrawal of all cases registered in connection with farmers' movements.