Ahead of Tuesday's 'Delhi Chalo' march called by farmers organisations, three Union ministers -- Piyush Goyal, Arjun Munda and Nityanand Rai -- will arrive in Chandigarh on Monday to hold talks with the farmers organisations.
The the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha had announced 'Delhi Chalo' march by more than 200 farmers' unions on Tuesday to press the Centre for accepting several demands.
Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher on Saturday said the Centre has invited them for a meeting to discuss their demands on February 12. "A meeting with Union Ministers Arjun Munda, Piyush Goyal and Nityanand Rai regarding the demands of farmers unions will take place on Monday at 5 pm in Chandigarh," Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee general secretary Sarvan Singh Pandher told reporters on Saturday. The meeting will be held at the Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration in Sector 26 here.
This is the second meeting of the Centre with the farm leaders who have raised demands, including a law to guarantee a minimum support price for crops. The first meeting was held last week which also saw Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann attending it.
During the meeting, the centre had assured the farmers of second round of meeting. However, the farmer leaders had said their proposed 'Delhi Chalo' march on February 13 still stood.
Meanwhile, the Haryana Government has said that ordered the suspension of mobile internet services and bulk SMS in seven districts ahead of farmers' proposed 'Delhi Chalo' march on February 13.
According to an official order, the mobile internet services will remain suspended in Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad and Sirsa districts from 6 am on February 11 to 23:59 pm on February 13.
#WATCH | Security being tightened near Singhu Border, ahead of the farmers' call for March to Delhi on 13th February. pic.twitter.com/pcU9yobJhQ
— ANI (@ANI) February 11, 2024
Meanwhile, section 144 has been imposed at Panchkula in Haryana. A ban was imposed on taking out processions, demonstrations, march pasts on foot or with tractor trolleys and other vehicles, and carrying any sticks, rods or weapons, according to Panchkula DCP Sumer Singh Pratap.
The Haryana Police has issued also traffic advisory, urging commuters to limit travel on main roads on Tuesday due to anticipated disruptions. Alternative routes have been suggested for commuters travelling between Chandigarh and Delhi to mitigate potential traffic congestion.
Meanwhile, police have said that farmers from Punjab would not be allowed to enter Haryana. Senior police officials, including Haryana's DGP and Ambala's SP, have conducted inspections at border points to assess security arrangements. The officials have set up concrete barricades and road closures at the Shambhu border. The Ghaggar river bed has been dug up to impede movement.
