Agitating farmer union leaders Jagjeet Singh Dallewal and Sarwan Singh Pandher on Wednesday said that they don’t want any confrontation with the Centre and are ready for talks to resolve all the issues related to their demands, including a law guaranteeing minimum support price for their crops. “We don’t want confrontation, we want dialogue. The meeting for tomorrow has been scheduled for 5 PM,” the farmer leaders said while addressing a press conference this evening. “While we were in discussion, our Twitter handle was shut down by the government, stating that we are engaging in anti-national activity. This is incorrect,” they added.They went on to add, ”The central government is provoking us. The Centre does not want us to proceed with dialogue; instead, there is continuous SHELLING on us… Today, we responded to their provocation. The attitude of the Center is not right……and you speak for dialogue”.
Police lobbed multiple rounds of teargas shells to disperse farmers who were approaching the police barricade at the Punjab-Haryana Shambhu border to resume the ‘Dilli Chalo’ protest on Wednesday. To ensure law and order, Delhi police have already enforced Section 144, restricting entry of tractor trolleys and large assemblies. Mobile internet services, bulk SMS and all dongle services will continue to remain suspended in seven districts of Haryana for another 48 hours till February 15 midnight in view of the ‘Delli Chalo’ call given by farmers’ organisations.