The Samyukta Kisan Morcha and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha jointly announced the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march, which will see participation from over 200 farmers’ unions on February 13.The aim is to pressure the Centre into addressing various demands, including the enactment of legislation to ensure a minimum support price (MSP) for crops. In addition to seeking a legal guarantee for MSP, the farmers are advocating for the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations, pensions for both farmers and farm labourers, forgiveness of farm debts, withdrawal of police charges, and ‘justice’ for those affected by the violence in Lakhimpur Kheri.
Delhi police on Sunday said that it was necessary to issue a precautionary order at Tikri border under Section 144 of the criminal procedure code 1973 to safeguard lives and property in the area. “Information has been received that some farmer organisations have given a call to their supporters to gather/march to Delhi on 13th February for their demands of the law on MSP and others. They are likely to sit at the border of Delhi till their demands are met. In order to avoid any untoward incident and to maintain Law & Order, a precautionary Order of section 144 Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, is required to be issued to save the lives and property in the area,” said the order.
Meanwhile, the Haryana government has announced the suspension of mobile internet, bulk SMS, and all dongle services in several districts until February 13. As per a notification issued by the Manohar Lal Khattar-led Haryana government, mobile internet services will be suspended in seven districts—Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad, and Sirsa—from 6 am on February 11 until 11:59 pm on February 13.
At the Shambhu border, the road on the Ghaggar flyover is closed to traffic, with police installing cemented barricades to block access. Additional items like barbed wire, sandbags, and concrete blocks have been stockpiled at this location. View cutters and frames are also being erected on the flyover, and the Ghaggar river bed has been excavated to impede farmers from reaching the highway.
In Jind, two roads near the Haryana-Punjab border have been sealed off for vehicular traffic, and restrictions have been enforced on two additional roads, as confirmed by a police official on Sunday.
Meanwhile, in Fatehabad district, police have deployed cemented barricades and spike strips on the Jakhal road to prevent protesters from Punjab from advancing towards Delhi.
Responding to the situation, the Haryana Police issued a traffic advisory on Saturday, urging commuters to seek alternative routes. For travelers heading from Chandigarh to Delhi, suggested alternatives include routes via Derabassi, Barwala/Ramgarh, Saha, Shahbad, Kurukshetra, or Panchkula, NH-344 Yamunanagar Indri/Pipli, Karnal. Similarly, commuters traveling from Delhi to Chandigarh are advised to consider routes via Karnal, Indri/Pipli, Yamunanagar, Panchkula, or Kurukshetra, Shahbad, Saha, Barwala, Ramgarh, according to police directives.
In 2020, farmers primarily hailing from Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, sustained a year-long protest at various border points of Delhi—Singhu, Tikri, and Ghazipur—voicing opposition against the three farm laws, which have since been repealed.