Farmers from Punjab will resume their “Delhi Chalo” protest march on Saturday, December 14, to demand long-overdue agricultural reforms. The movement, organized under the banners of Samyukta Kisan Morcha and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, has called for a mass gathering at two interstate borders along Haryana on Friday, marking ten months of demonstrations.
Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher announced that 101 farmers would marchl towards Delhi to present their demands before Parliament. Ahead of the march, participants will gather at Sikh shrines on Wednesday to pray for solidarity and the success of their movement.
The farmers are demanding legal guarantees for minimum support prices (MSP), loan waivers, and broader agricultural reforms to address systemic issues in the sector.
Their march was temporarily halted on December 8 after clashes with security forces at Shambhu, the Haryana entry point, left several protesters injured. Security forces deployed teargas shells to disperse the crowd as farmers attempted to breach barricades. Protesters have been camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points since February, citing the Haryana government’s heavy security measures as excessive.
“The Haryana government has turned this border into something like the India-Pakistan border,” a protester remarked, criticizing heightened security at the interstate boundary along the Ghaggar rivulet. Central paramilitary forces and state police remain stationed at the site to prevent further escalations.
Meanwhile, the condition of farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been on a hunger strike for 15 days, continues to deteriorate. Doctors report unstable blood pressure and weight loss, raising concerns among supporters.
Separately, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan informed the Lok Sabha that over 2.04 crore farmers from marginalized communities have benefited from the PM-KISAN scheme. The government claims technological advancements and grievance mechanisms have ensured efficient fund disbursement, with Rs3.46 lakh crore distributed since the scheme’s inception.
As the farmers plan their next steps, the protest highlights ongoing tensions between rural communities and authorities over agricultural policies and reforms. The Delhi march represents a critical chapter in their struggle for justice and economic security.
