The Delhi government welcomed the protesting farmers as their "guests" on Friday and made elaborate arrangements for their food, drinking water and shelter.
Earlier in the day, Delhi police allowed the protesting farmers to enter daily after hours of lathi-charge and tear gas at the Haryana-Delhi border. They were allowed in to hold a peaceful protest at a north Delhi ground against the central farm laws.
Some representatives of the farmers also inspected the Nirankari Samagam Ground in Burari along with police officers.
The farmers clashed with the police for two days and continued their march towards Delhi for a massive protest against new farm laws. Groups of farmers, walking with tractors carrying stocks of food and essential supplies, were trying to enter Delhi from multiple points, defying barricades, many wrapped in barbed wire. To stop their progress, the Haryana police had dug trenches at various crossing points. This morning, farmers tear-gassed at the Haryana-Delhi border were seen arguing with the police who tried to push them back.
Modified tractors, carrying rations, woollens, essential items and people, passed through Haryana on Thursday evening as thousands of Punjab farmers protesting against the government's new farm laws, slowly moved closer to Delhi. Undeterred by police barricades, tear gas and water cannons, the farmers have been continuing the march since Thursday morning.
Here are the Live Updates of the farmers' protest:
Welcoming the protesting farmers, who were allowed to enter Delhi through the Tikri border to hold demonstrations on Nirankari Samagam Ground in the Burari area against the new farm laws, the Aam Adami Party on Friday said that it will make all the necessary arrangements for them.
"The Aam Aadmi Party welcomes the farmers to Delhi. We will take full care of the farmers and make all the necessary arrangements for them. We stand with the farmers in this battle. Jai Kisan," the party tweeted from its official handle.
Prior to that, the party also disclosed the capital territory government's decision to reject Delhi Police's application seeking permission to convert stadiums into temporary jails for the protesting farmers and asked the central government to accept their demands.
Meanwhile, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has closed several stations in the national capital as a precautionary measure.
The police removed barricades near Ambala's Shambhu border - the site of fiercest action by Haryana Police since Friday morning with tear gas shells and water cannons. However, farmers marched on unfazed.
Welcoming the protesting farmers, who were allowed to enter Delhi through the Tikri border to hold demonstrations on Nirankari Samagam Ground in the Burari area against the new farm laws, the Aam Adami Party on Friday said that it will make all the necessary arrangements for them.
"The Aam Aadmi Party welcomes the farmers to Delhi. We will take full care of the farmers and make all the necessary arrangements for them. We stand with the farmers in this battle. Jai Kisan," the party tweeted from its official handle.
Prior to that, the party also disclosed the capital territory government's decision to reject Delhi Police's application seeking permission to convert stadiums into temporary jails for the protesting farmers and asked the central government to accept their demands.
A young man from Haryana's Ambala who was seen scaling a police water cannon to turn it off in one of the most iconic moments of the protest march of farmers towards Delhi so far has been charged with attempt to murder." itemprop="description
Congress leader and former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Friday condemned the use of force against the farmers by Haryana police and said that tear gas and water cannon "aggravated the misery of farmers" who are already in tears against the three recently-enacted farm laws.
"Farmers were marching peacefully. They are already in tears and tear gas was fired on them. Water cannons are dangerous in this weather, yet they were used. There is only one solution and that is to talk with the farmers and sort out their issues. Their demands are valid and we are also supporting them," Mr Hooda told ANI.
Mr Hooda also requested people of Haryana help the farmers coming towards Delhi by providing them food, shelter, and any kind of medical help.
In the afternoon, Delhi Police said the farmers would be escorted to a designated site for their protest.
Verma said 77 farmers were arrested during the protest.
"The government has always been ready to discuss issues with farmers. We have invited farmers' organizations for another round of talks on 3rd December. I appeal to them to leave agitation in view of COVID-19 and winter," said Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar.
"The Central government is always ready for talks. I appeal to all farmers to directly talk to the Centre for all their legitimate issues," tweeted Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.
The farmers raised slogans and pressed into the barricades but there were many obstructions.
In course of the night, they removed all the blocks.
After discussion with farmer leaders, Delhi Police has allowed farmers to protest peacefully at Nirankari Samagam Ground in Burari. We appeal to them to maintain peace in order to avoid any inconvenience to others: Delhi Police PRO Eish Singhal
Protesting farmers jump barricades in Sirsa, say they're going to Delhi for their rights.
In order to block thousands of protesting farmers heading towards Delhi, Haryana used a common military tactic - digging trenches at points near the state border. Images showed roadsides dug up and heavy trucks and barbed wire barricades on the roads at the border as a firm barrier to farmers marching towards the capital.
Delhi Police has sought the state government's permission to use the city's nine stadiums as temporary jails to house protesting farmers' from Punjab and Haryana who enter the city as part of their ongoing "Delhi Chalo" march, reports said on Friday. However, leaders of the Aam Admi Party (AAP), which rules Delhi, have objected to any such move. Read more here
Lathi-charge, tear gas and barbed wires were in place as part of high security arrangements to stop protesting farmers from marching to Delhi today.
In order to block thousands of protesting farmers heading towards Delhi, Haryana used a common military tactic - digging trenches at points near the state border. Images showed roadsides dug up and heavy trucks and barbed wire barricades on the roads at the border as a firm barrier to farmers marching towards the capital.
Farmers use a tractor to remove a truck placed as a barricade to stop them from entering Delhi, at Tikri border near Delhi-Bahadurgarh highway.
Farmers faced a lathi-charge and tear gas early this morning at the Haryana-Delhi border and clashed with the police as they continued their march towards Delhi for a massive protest against new farm laws. Groups of farmers, walking with tractors carrying stocks of food and essential supplies, are trying to enter Delhi from multiple points, defying barricades, many wrapped in barbed wire. To stop their progress, the Haryana police has dug trenches at various crossing points. This morning, farmers tear-gassed at the Haryana-Delhi border were seen arguing with the police who tried to push them back.
The shells were fired at the border point which connects Delhi with Haryana.
The police officer said, "We are using tear gas to disperse protesting farmers. We are also informing them that in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, any kind of rally and dharna is not allowed."
"They have been denied permission and legal action will be taken against them if they still try to enter Delhi," the officer further said.
Security has been strengthened at the border and sand-laden trucks and water cannons have been stationed. Barbed wire is also being used for fencing at the Singhu border to prevent the protesters from entering the city.
Farmers from Punjab stopped from entering Delhi at Singhu border (Haryana-Delhi border)
Haryana: Commuters headed towards Delhi from other states say they're facing problems after getting stuck on Delhi-Panipat Highway due to road blockade.
Farmers from six states had been planning the "Delhi Chalo" protest for two months against the centre's new farm laws that. Teargas, water cannons and a large police contingent failed to stop them from crossing over to Haryana en route to Delhi.
Modified tractors, carrying rations, woollens, essential items and people, trundled through Haryana in the chilly winter evening as thousands of Punjab farmers protesting against the Centre's new farm laws, slowly moved closer to Delhi, undeterred by police barricades, tear gas and water cannons. "More than 50,000 farmers will be standing at the Delhi border by today evening," two farmers' bodies claimed. Close to midnight, water cannons started up at Haryana's Sonipat to disperse a small group of Punjab farmers. The day has been replete with clashes -- on one occasion the protesters even pitched the yellow iron barricades into the river below while trying to cross a narrow bridge. Leaders in Punjab and Haryana, meanwhile, sparred on Twitter over the issue.