Locations affected:

The Khanauri and Shambu border between Haryana and Punjab, The Gazipur and Tikri borders, The borders between Haryana and Delhi

What:

The 2024 Indian farmers’ protest is an ongoing protest that started on 13 February 2024. The farmers converged at the borders and attempted to march to the National Capital Region, New Delhi, as negotiations on farmers’ demands between the farmers’ leaders and government officials yielded no results. Most of the farmers are from Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh.

Organizers:

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), a non-political body of farmers that claims to be a platform of over 150 farmer organizations, and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM), which is backed by another 100 farmers’ unions, are leading the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march. The protests are led by Jagjit Singh Dallewal of BKU (Dallewal) and Sarvan Singh Pandher of Kisan Mazdoor Morcha.

Why:

The protests are ongoing to demand the government’s guarantee on assured floor prices or Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crop production in a repeat of the 2020–2021 farmers’ protest.

So What:

• The Shambu and Khanauri borders between Haryana and Punjab (~ 200 km from the capital), where thousands of farmers have gathered, remain tense as police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the protesting crowds.
• Farmer unions have announced that they will be continuing their march to Delhi until demands are met after a meeting of all farmer organizations of Punjab on 28 February.
• Disruptions to traffic movement at the Singhu and Tikri border points, as well as the Shambhu and Khanauri borders, are expected to continue.
• The Kirti Kisan Union has organized protests on 29 February in all district headquarters of Haryana to protest police action against farmers.
• Barricades in the Rohtak, Jin, Fatehabad, Sirsa, and Hisar districts, the service lane on the Delhi-Ambala stretch of NH-44 and Sriganganagar-Abohar National Highway 62 have been removed. However, the barricades at the Punjab border in Fatehabad, Jind, and Sirsa districts remain along with police deployment.
• Mobile internet services have been suspended in Patiala and Dangrur from 0000 hours on 28 February to 2359 hours on 01 March.
• Heightened security measures including barricades, suspension of internet services, and implementation of section 144 of CrPC to avoid major public disruptions can be anticipated. Traffic restrictions and diversions around protest locations and government buildings can be expected.
• Escalation of protests and clashes between farmers and police authorities cannot be ruled out.

Outlook:

The ongoing farmer union demonstrations are expected to continue until a resolution is achieved with the government. Though rooted in Punjab, farmers from diverse regions cite declining incomes, exacerbated by export restrictions and cheaper imports, signaling a deepening rural crisis. It is recommended to closely monitor developments that may escalate the protest beyond Punjab.

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