Delhi Braces For Traffic Snarl Today As Farmers Plan 'Dilli Chalo' March Amid Prohibitory Orders | Key Updates

Delhi is preparing for another round of severe traffic disruptions this week as farmers plan a "Dilli Chalo" march from the Shambhu border.

Prohibitory orders banning large gatherings have been imposed in Haryana's Ambala this evening.

Photo Credit: PTI

Here are the key details:

1. The march to the Parliament building in Delhi is set to commence at 1 pm tomorrow from the protest site at the Shambhu border.

2. This marks the second march planned this week. On Monday, farmers from Uttar Pradesh attempted a similar march to Parliament but were stopped in Noida, causing significant traffic jams on both sides of the border.

3. The farmers, organised under the banner of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political), are demanding a legal guarantee for the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of crops, among other issues.

4. Additional demands include a waiver of farm debts, pensions for farmers and their labourers, no increase in electricity tariffs, the withdrawal of police cases, and "justice" for victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence.

5. Protesters have been camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since 13 February, after their march to Delhi was blocked by security forces.

6. Prohibitory orders, which bar gatherings of four or more people, effectively prohibit any processions on foot, by vehicle, or other means.

7. Central paramilitary forces have been deployed on the Haryana side of the border, accompanied by multi-layer barricading. Senior police officials have arrived to evaluate the security situation.

8. Earlier this week, the Supreme Court stated that while peaceful protest is a democratic right, farmers must avoid blocking highways and inconveniencing the public.

9. "In a democratic system, peaceful protests are acceptable, but they should not disrupt people's lives. Everyone knows the Khanauri border is crucial for Punjab. We are not judging the validity of the protest," observed a bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan.

10. On February 21, Shubhkaran Singh, a farmer from Punjab, tragically died during a clash at the Khanauri border when protesters attempted to march towards Delhi. Security forces responded with teargas shells.