Police in India’s northern states Punjab and Haryana on Thursday had to stop the farmers at different inter-state borders from entering Delhi, who planned to protest against the recently passed farm laws.
The protesting farmers contend that the three farm laws were detrimental to their interests. On the other hand, the federal government said the new laws aimed at “liberalizing” the farm sector and promising more incomes to farmers.
A large number of farmers’ organizations in Haryana and Punjab states had called for a two-day protest in Delhi on Thursday and Friday.
TV footages showed the farmers breaking the barricades installed by the police personnel. Some even threw the barricades into a river, while the police dispersed the farmers using water-canons and teargas shells.
Thousands of farmers gathered at the Ambala-Patiala border between Punjab and Haryana states and turned violent while some pushed heavy government vehicles. Police reinforcements were called in at the spot to control the violent crowds, said local media reports.
The three farm laws passed by the parliament included the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act 2020, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act 2020.
The federal government said the new laws would help deregulate the agricultural markets and help farmers in the country earn more.
