A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court, requesting immediate action to clear the blockages on National and state highways in Punjab. The petition alleges that these highways have been “encroached and blocked illegally by alleged farmers and farmer unions” at various locations in the state. The petition seeks the intervention of the states of Punjab and Haryana, as well as the Union of India, to remove restrictions placed due to farmers’ protests and ensure that all National Highways and railway tracks are not blocked by the agitating farmers.
The petition also requests that the states and the Union take steps to ensure smooth passage for the general public to be heard by the Supreme Court on December 9, news agency ANI reported.
Farmers’ Delhi March Called Off For The Day After 8 Injured Amid Tear Gas Shelling: Sarwan Singh Pandher
Protesting farmers on Sunday afternoon suspended their foot march to Delhi for the day after some of them were injured in tear gas shelling by Haryana security personnel along the state’s border with Punjab. Farmer leader from Punjab, Sarwan Singh Pandher, reported that at least eight farmers were injured, and one of them was rushed to the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh. He stated that the ‘jatha’ (group of 101 farmers) had called back and would decide their next course of action after a meeting of their forums, the Samyuka Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha.
Earlier in the afternoon, the ‘jatha’ resumed its foot march from the farmers’ Shambhu protest site but was soon halted by multilayered barricades erected by Haryana security personnel. Tear gas shells were lobbed at the protesting farmers, and water jets were used to disperse them after they reached the barricades, news agency PTI reported.
#WATCH | Latest visuals of tear gas being used at Punjab-Haryana Shambhu border by police to disperse the farmers’ protesting and trying to move ahead as they begin their ‘Dilli Chalo’ march, today pic.twitter.com/qNmNDLAjId
— ANI (@ANI) December 8, 2024
The Ambala police had earlier stated that the farmers’ outfits could only march to Delhi after obtaining permission from the national capital administration. The group, known as ‘marjeevras’ (someone willing to die for a cause), was marching for a legal guarantee for the Minimum Support Price before being stopped only a few meters away.
In Rajpura, Pandher expressed frustration, stating that they had been in touch with the District Commissioner (DC) and the Sub-Inspector (SP) in Ambala. However, they had refused to meet with them in Ambala. He expressed confidence that tomorrow, they would receive information about the talks.
#WATCH | Rajpura: Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher says, “We were in touch with the DC and SP Ambala. We had refused to have a meeting with them in Ambala… In the meeting (in Punjab), they said all the officers are busy as PM Modi is going to visit (Haryana and Rajasthan)… pic.twitter.com/XekTMC1x4m
— ANI (@ANI) December 8, 2024
“We were in touch with the DC and SP Ambala. We had refused to have a meeting with them in Ambala… In the meeting (in Punjab), they said all the officers are busy as PM Modi is going to visit (Haryana and Rajasthan) tomorrow. We have shown positive intent and tomorrow they will inform us about the talks,” he told ANI.
