The security forces on the Haryana side on Wednesday lobbed tear gas shells on the protesting farmers as they proceed towards Delhi from the Shambhu border as part of the ‘Dilli Chalo’ march, a National media agency reported.
Sources said the tear gas shells were fired after farm leaders Jagjit Singh Dallewal and Sarwan Singh Pandher announced to enter Haryana. “We will lead this protest and we will win”, they said as tear gas shells were fired on the farmers, who had reached close to the barricades.
Earlier, Dallewal and Pandher said the protesting farmers, who have been camping at two border points between Punjab and Haryana after they were stopped by security personnel, will march towards Delhi in a peaceful manner.
The farmer leaders also urged the Central government to remove barricades and blockades at the Shambhu border and allow the farmers to march peacefully to Delhi.
“We are ready to die and be shot in the interest of the farmers of the country as it is now not a fight for farmers from Punjab but of the whole nation,” the leaders said.
“If any standoff happens… it can turn ugly, as farmers are adamant to reach Delhi and we will only proceed peacefully. But if they open fire at us or use force; then whatever happens will be the responsibility of those who had put up these barricades,” they added.
Thousands of farmers, who began their march to Delhi on February 13, were stopped at the Haryana border itself, where they clashed with security personnel. The farmers have been camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since then.
