Chandigarh: Mobile internet connectivity has been restricted in seven districts by the BJP-led Haryana government in anticipation of a farmers’ march towards Delhi scheduled for Tuesday. The administration has notified that dongle services on mobile phones will be suspended, allowing only voice calls to go through.
The farmers are advocating for legislation to ensure Minimum Support Price (MSP) for their crops, as well as pension and insurance schemes. Over 200 organizations are actively participating in the protest.
Mobile internet services have been halted in Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad, and Sirsa districts until Tuesday night.
In Sonipat, near Delhi, fuel pump owners have been instructed not to dispense fuel in bottles or other containers, with a limit of 10 liters for tractors. The administration has cautioned against providing fuel to individuals associated with the farmers’ protest, threatening punitive measures.
To prevent farmers from neighboring Punjab from entering Haryana en route to Delhi, police are planning to seal the Haryana-Punjab borders, leading to potential inconvenience for commuters traveling between Chandigarh and Delhi. Alternative routes have been designated for this purpose.
Haryana Police have advised commuters to avoid main roads on Tuesday and warned of potential traffic disruptions due to the protest. Cement barriers, barbed wires, and sandbags have been deployed along the Haryana-Delhi borders to prevent farmers from entering the national capital. Water cannons and drones are also being utilized.
Fifty paramilitary companies have been deployed to support Haryana Police efforts. Haryana police chief Shatrujeet Kapur has cautioned against any attempts to disrupt peace and warned of strict action. The police have urged farmers to refrain from participating in the protest and threatened action against any damage to public property. Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij has assured that the state government will ensure complete peace.
In the meantime, the Centre has extended an invitation to the protesting farmers for talks on the following day. However, the likelihood of the protests being called off is slim as the demands necessitate detailed discussions and legislative processes.
The protest is being organized by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, a non-political entity, with several farmers’ organizations distancing themselves from it. The Bharatiya Kisan Union (Lakhowal), which played a significant role in the farmers’ protests of 2020-21 resulting in the withdrawal of three laws by the Centre, has announced its decision not to participate in Tuesday’s protest but will join a protest on Friday instead. Nevertheless, the BKU has warned that any mistreatment of farmers during Tuesday’s protest will prompt all unions to take to the streets.
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