New Delhi, December 8: Police clashed with protesting farmers at the Punjab-Haryana Shambhu border on Sunday, using tear gas to disperse those who had begun their "Dilli Chalo" march earlier in the day. Tensions escalated when a verbal altercation broke out between farmers and police, with drone footage capturing authorities blocking the farmers' progress at the border.
According to Haryana Police, the group of farmers attempting to advance did not match the list of 101 farmers authorized to participate in the march. "We will first identify them before allowing them to proceed," a Haryana police official stated. "We have a list of 101 farmers, but these individuals are not on it. They are moving as a group and refusing to let us identify them."
The police further clarified that the farmers did not have permission to proceed toward Delhi. However, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher disputed this, saying that the group had already submitted the list of 101 participants. "Our 'Jattha' of 101 farmers and laborers is here. We’ve provided the list, and if the police want to verify our identities, we will cooperate," Pandher said. "We have shown discipline and will continue to do so. But they are using more tear gas today, likely because the wind is blowing towards us. We are prepared for any sacrifice. The Prime Minister has the solution to our issues — either he resolves them, or we will continue our march to Delhi."
A farmer at the Shambhu border also claimed the police had the wrong list of names. "The list they have doesn't include the farmers who are here. We’ve asked them to let us continue, and we are willing to show our ID cards. But why do we have to prove our identity if we are not being allowed to move forward?" he said. "We are trying to resolve this through dialogue, but we are determined to march. I’ve told the police to go to Haryana, as this is Punjab's land."
Earlier in the day, Sarwan Singh Pandher had announced that a group of 101 farmers would begin their march at noon, but the standoff at the border has now delayed their progress toward Delhi.
