India: Delhi Chalo March Enters 19th Day Amid Escalating Tensions

Tensions soared on the 19th day of the ongoing Delhi Chalo March as Haryana police persisted in confronting protesting farmers, despite calls for restraint amidst the farmers’ rejection of the government’s proposed system.

Human Rights Watch voiced alarm over the reported use of excessive force by the police, stressing the urgent need for a peaceful resolution to the standoff.

In response to the government’s inaction, farmer leaders declared plans to escalate protests at Shambhu and Khanuri borders and endorsed sit-ins in Dabwali, condemning the government’s failure to address their demands.

Highlighting the pressing need for legal assurances on minimum support prices for crops, leader Sarwan Singh Pandhar criticized the government’s indifference to the farmers’ plight.

Meanwhile, social media platforms faced criticism for suspending accounts supporting the farmers’ cause, triggering accusations of stifling expression and exacerbating communal tensions.

Amid the escalating tensions, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting exacerbated the situation by banning a documentary on the protests, citing sensitivity. Additionally, Haryana Police’s revocation of visas for protesting farmers further fueled discontent.

The protests have also precipitated a crisis in Punjab, impacting diesel and gas supplies, while heavy traffic on the Delhi-Noida border has disrupted commuters. With thousands of farmers converging on the Punjab-Haryana border and mobile internet services suspended in Haryana-Ambala areas, the protests show no signs of abating, signaling a deepening unrest beyond Punjab.