Section 144 Imposed In Panchkula, Barricades At Delhi Borders Ahead Of Farmers' Protest. Top Points

The march has been called by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha to press the Centre to accept their various demands.

Delhi Police are barricading the Ghazipur border ahead of the farmers' call for march to Delhi on February 13, news agency ANI reported. The march has been called by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha to press the Centre to accept their various demands, including enactment of a law to guarantee minimum support price (MSP) for crops. More than 200 farmers' unions will participate in the march. 

Key Points: 

1. Ahead of the farmers march, Section 144 has been imposed in Haryana's Panchkula, according to DCP Sumer Singh Pratap. "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," the DCP stated. 

2. In view of the farmers march on Feb 13, Haryana police has sealed the Shambhu border, said Ambala DCP Arshdeep Singh. Speaking with ANI, he stated: "When they (farmers) come here, we will request them not to go beyond this because they do not have permission for it. We want them to end the movement peacefully."

3. Earlier, on Saturday, elaborate arrangements were being made to seal the Pujab-Haryana borders in Ambala, Jind, and Fatehabad districts ahead of farmers march. The Haryana government has also announced the suspension of mobile internet and bulk SMS in seven districts: Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad, and Sirsa.

4. On Saturday, Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher stated that the Centre had called them to a meeting on February 12 to address their demands, news agency PTI reported. He stated that three Union ministers: Piyush Goyal, Arjun Munda, and Nityanand Rai, will arrive in Chandigarh on February 12 to meet with a delegation from the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha. The meeting would take place at the Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration in Sector 26, one day before the farmers' planned 'Delhi Chalo' march.

5. The first meeting with the three Union ministers took place on February 8, and included a comprehensive discussion with the leaders of farmer associations planning a 'Delhi Chalo' march to lobby for their demands, including a law ensuring a minimum support price for crops. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who worked with farmer leaders to arrange the gathering, also attended.

6. Following the meeting, the farmer leaders stated that the central ministers had guaranteed them that a second round of discussions would take place shortly.