Delhi Police deployed at borders are maintaining law and order amidst the farmers’ ‘Delhi chalo’ call. Massive police and paramilitary deployment and multi-layered barricading seal the borders at Singhu, Tikri, and Ghazipur.

Central Delhi is under heavy security, with anti-riot personnel strategically deployed and barricades regulating access to key roads. On Tuesday, Delhi Metro regulated passenger entry at nine stations due to the farmers’ march.

Tear gas was used by police to halt farmers demanding minimum crop prices at the Shambhu border, with drones dropping tear gas canisters. While farmers are not actively impeded, Punjab is on high alert, with 70% of the state police force deployed. Farmers demand acknowledgement of their grievances, including legislation for a minimum support price (MSP) and enforcement of the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations. They also seek pensions for farmers and forgiveness of farm debts. Justice for victims of the Lakhimpur Kheri violence is also demanded.

Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture, K V Thomas stated that The National Commission on Farmers, chaired by Prof. M.S. Swaminathan proposed that the Minimum Support Price (MSP) should be at least 50% higher than the weighted average cost of production. However, the government did not adopt this recommendation because the MSP is determined by the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP), which uses objective criteria and considers various relevant factors. Therefore, mandating a minimum 50% increase on production costs might disrupt the market. A rigid connection between MSP and production costs could prove counterproductive in certain scenarios.

On Sunday, the Delhi police implemented section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code at the Uttar Pradesh borders as a precautionary measure ahead of the farmers’ protests scheduled for Tuesday. More than 50,000 security personnel have been stationed at the Delhi borders, with internet and bulk SMS services suspended in seven districts – Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad, and Sirsa – for February 13th.

Union Minister Anurag Thakur commented on the ongoing farmer talks, noting that negotiations are prolonged due to the farmers presenting new demands. Meanwhile, the second phase of Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’ in Jharkhand, slated to begin Wednesday, was called off. This decision came as the senior Congress leader hurried to Delhi to participate in a farmers’ agitation in the capital, as per party sources.

The government’s attempts to quell the protests through negotiations have so far yielded little progress, further fueling the frustration and anger among the farmers. Despite assurances of amendments and assurances, many within the farming community remain unconvinced, calling for nothing short of a complete repeal of the laws.The resilience of the farmers has garnered widespread support from various quarters, with civil society organizations, opposition parties, and even international figures expressing solidarity with their cause. Critics of the farm laws contend that they favor corporate interests over the welfare of farmers, while proponents argue that they are necessary for modernizing the agricultural sector.

By Kashish Jain