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It is unfortunate that a farmer in this country is being dubbed "anti-national," General Secretary of Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee Sarvan Singh Pandher said, as crores of farmers from across the country will be marching to the national capital tomorrow to press for their demands.
Meanwhile, ahead of the march, Delhi police have issued prohibitory orders under Section 144 at the Gazipur, Tikri, and Singu borders. To prevent any untoward incident, Railway Protection Force personnel have been deployed, and security has been tightened near the Ghazipur border area. Haryana authorities have also suspended mobile Internet, bulk SMS, and all dongle services in seven districts---Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad and Sirsa-- of Haryana till February 13. The Shambu border in (Punjab-Haryana) has been sealed to ensure law and order are maintained. "Crores of farmers will be marching tomorrow from Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Bihar, Haryana, Punjab, and Rajasthan to the national capital to join the march called to press for their demands," Pandher told ANI in Amritsar on Monday ahead of the 'Delhi Chalo' march to the national capital on February 13. "We will be leaving today from Beas, a town in Punjab, and staying at Fatehgarh Sahib," he said. "It is unfortunate that a farmer in this country is being dubbed anti-national. It is unacceptable. We are the citizens of this country. We are going to put forward our demands. We have not been heard for the last 75 years," he added. The protesting farmers are adamant on a piece of legislation guaranteeing MSP, one of the conditions they had set when they agreed to withdraw their agitation against the now-repealed farm laws in 2021. They are also demanding implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations, pensions for farmers and farm labourers, farm debt waivers, withdrawal of police cases, and "justice" for victims of the Lakhimpur Kheri violence. On their strategy, he said, "Farmers will march peacefully. "We are going to press the government for our demands." Elaborate arrangements are also underway to seal the Punjab-Haryana borders in Ambala, Jind, and Fatehabad districts ahead of the planned 'Delhi Chalo' march. According to sources, a request has been placed for central armed forces on these three border areas of Delhi. Meanwhile, ahead of the 'Delhi Chalo' march, Delhi Police on Sunday imposed Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code in North-East Delhi and at the borders with neighbouring Uttar Pradesh to avoid any untoward incidents and ensure law and order. The Delhi Traffic Police also issued a traffic advisory on Sunday. The city police also announced the imposition of Section 144 in Shahadara and Gandhi Nagar areas of the Capital, effectively banning large gatherings until March 11. (ANI)
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