New Delhi: Tear gas was fired at farmers gathered at Shambhu on the Haryana-Punjab border on Friday afternoon during their ‘Dilli Chalo’ march. The protestors are pressing for key demands, including a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP), farm loan waivers, and protection against rising power tariffs.
Two farmers sustained injuries during the incident. Visuals shared by news agency IANS captured the chaotic scene at a police barricade on National Highway 44. The 73-second video showed tear gas smoke engulfing the protesting farmers as they retreated from the barricade.
The footage also revealed rolls of barbed wire at the site. Among the protesters, an elderly farmer affected by the tear gas was seen being helped by his companions.
Shortly before the farmers commenced their march, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan assured Parliament that the Narendra Modi government remains committed to procuring crops at the Minimum Support Price (MSP).
Government Reaffirms Commitment to MSP Amid Farmers’ Protest
Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan assured Parliament that the government remains steadfast in its commitment to purchasing crops at Minimum Support Price (MSP).
“I want to assure the House… all produce of farmers will be purchased at MSP. This is the Modi government, and we will fulfill Modiji’s guarantee,” Mr. Chouhan said. He also criticized the Congress, referring to them as “friends from the other side,” for their past stance on the MS Swaminathan Commission recommendations.
“They said, on record, they cannot accept the MS Swaminathan Commission recommendations, particularly on paying 50% more than the cost price,” he stated, emphasizing that the government has been procuring crops like paddy, wheat, jowar, and soybean at 50% above production costs for the past three years.
Tense Standoff at Protest Site
Meanwhile, over 100 farmers participating in the ‘Dilli Chalo’ march faced heavy police barricades on National Highway 44, resulting in a tense standoff. Videos from the scene showed farmers waving flags and chanting slogans as they confronted the barricades.
In one video, a group of farmers, some carrying the national flag, was seen breaking through a layer of barricades. A dented yellow police fence lay on the road as the protesters advanced toward another barrier further down the highway.
Farmers’ Protest: Internet Suspended, Schools Closed in Ambala as March Begins
Ahead of the farmers’ march, mobile internet services and bulk messaging were suspended in parts of Ambala district until December 9. District authorities had also prohibited gatherings of five or more people and ordered the closure of both government and private schools for the day.
The protest aims to highlight longstanding farmer demands, including a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP), farm loan waivers, and protection against rising electricity tariffs.
The call for a legal framework for MSP—a government-fixed price designed to shield farmers from sharp drops in crop prices, such as during a bumper harvest—has been a central demand since protests began in September 2020.
Currently, MSPs lack legal enforcement, meaning the government is not obligated to purchase a farmer’s crops, such as 10 percent of their paddy, at the set floor price. Farmers are demanding this framework be transformed into a legally binding commitment.
The latest round of farmers’ protests has, like earlier ones, acquired a distinctly political undertone, with opposition parties voicing strong support for their demands. Protesters assert their stance has gained momentum following Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar’s pointed question to Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
On Tuesday, Vice President Dhankhar publicly raised concerns about the farmers’ issues, directly challenging the government’s position.
At a public event, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar directly questioned Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, saying, “Every moment is important. Please tell me, what was promised to the farmers, why has it not been fulfilled, and what needs to be done to honour the promise?”
Adding to the criticism, Congress MP Rajeev Shukla accused the government of reneging on its commitments. “The government promised a legal guarantee for MSP, but it has not delivered. This government doesn’t follow through on its words, which is why farmers are agitated,” Shukla said.
