The first day of the farmer’s protest ended with a temporary “ceasefire” as the demonstrators planned to continue their march to Delhi on February 14. Farmers clashed with Haryana Police at two sites along the Punjab-Haryana border, facing tear gas and water cannons as they tried to break past barricades blocking their protest march.
Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal said that 60 young protestors sustained injuries in the police action. Also, Seven police personnel, including a deputy superintendent of police, were brought to the Ambala government hospital. Farmers say they are ready for a long haul and come armed with six months' worth of rations and diesel.
Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher on Tuesday slammed the Narendra Modi government, saying it "attacked" the farmers marching towards Delhi by lobbing multiple teargas shells at them at Shambhu border near Ambala.
Pandher at Shambhu border told reporters, "In the history of India, today is a black day. It is shameful the way the Modi government attacked farmers and farm labourers." "Even today, we say we are farmers and labourers of the country and we do not want any fight," Pandher said, as he reiterated farmers' demands of a legal guarantee to the minimum support price and debt waiver.
(With PTI inputs)
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