The protesting farmers from Punjab have stayed put at the two border points – Shambhu and Khanauri – after they were stopped by security personnel on Tuesday.
The standoff between the protesting farmers and the security forces continued on the fourth day of protest, with security personnel firing tear gas shells to disperse demonstrators attempting to remove barricades at the Shambhu border near Ambala.
Police Applied Smoke Gases On Farmers
Ambala Superintendent of Police Jashandeep Singh Randhawa told HT that protesters allegedly resorted to pelting stones, hurling petrol bombs, and deploying chili smoke. Some individuals purportedly even attempted to ram security forces with tractors, heightening the volatile situation at the Shambhu border. Despite the assurance of peaceful protest at the Shambhu border bordering Punjab, continuous efforts are being made by the protesters to provoke the policemen.
Ministers Held Metting For The Protest
Representatives from both sides, including Union Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Minister Arjun Munda, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, and Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai, met on Thursday night. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema also participated in the discussions.
About Farmers Protest
The farmers are demanding a legal guarantee of Minimum Support Price (MSP), implementation of the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations, pension for farmers and farm laborers, farm debt waiver, and justice for victims of past violence. The agitation also calls for the reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, of 2013, and compensation for families affected by previous protests.