CHANDIGARH: Farmer leaders Jagjit Singh Dallewal and Sarwan Singh Pandher on Wednesday said the protesting farmers, who have been camping at two border points between Punjab and Haryana after they were stopped by security personnel, will march towards Delhi in a peaceful manner.
Dallewal and Pandher also urged the Central government to remove barricades and blockades at the Shambhu border and allow the farmers to march peacefully to Delhi.
“We are ready to die and be shot in the interest of the farmers of the country as it is now not a fight for farmers from Punjab but of the whole nation,” the leaders said ahead of the farmers’ plan to march towards the national capital.
“If any standoff happens… it can turn ugly, as farmers are adamant to reach Delhi and we will only proceed peacefully. But if they open fire at us or use force; then whatever happens will be the responsibility of those who had put up these barricades,” they added.
“Our intention is not to disturb peace,” the farmer leaders said. Accusing the BJP-led Centre of indulging in “delaying tactics” over the farmers’ demands, Dallewal asked the government to take a decision in their favour.
He also condemned the Centre for setting up multi-layered barricades at the border points between Punjab and Haryana to prevent them from heading towards Delhi.
“It is our request that we want to go to Delhi in a peaceful manner. The government should itself remove the barricades and give us the permission to march towards Delhi and make arrangements for our sitting in Delhi,” Dallewal told reporters at the Shambhu border point.
He criticised the government for not making a statement on enacting a law on the minimum support price (MSP) for crops.
“We are not afraid of tear gas and rubber bullets, but we fail to understand why they are stopping us. Only the government of Haryana and Union government will be responsible for what is going to happen today,” said Sarwan Singh Pandher.
Dallewal said they will start the march towards Delhi at 11 am.
Thousands of farmers, who began their march to Delhi on February 13, were stopped at the Haryana border itself, where they clashed with security personnel. The farmers have been camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since then.