Chandigarh: Thousands of Punjab farmers are assembling at the border of Haryana for their march towards Delhi on Thursday morning. A showdown is likely with farmers from five states – Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Kerala and Punjab – planning a march to Delhi on Thursday and Friday.

The Delhi government has refused to allow any rally in the city, citing the Covid- 19 outbreak. Massive security arrangements have been made at the borders with Delhi at Gurugram and Faridabad. Haryana has sealed borders with Punjab on Thursday and Friday. Massive security arrangement, complete with barricades, water cannons and riot vehicles have been made on roads from Punjab to thwart the protest march. Prohibitory orders banning large gatherings have been imposed in the state. Haryana has also suspended bus service to and from Punjab for the next two days and diverted all traffic from the blocked roads.

Farmers from Punjab camped at the Haryana border for the night. They said they will hold a sit-down protest wherever they are stopped by the neighbouring state. The Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta-Ugrahan) has claimed that over two lakh farmers associated with it will enter Haryana. The farmers have brought ration, vegetables, wood and other essentials for the march. In view of the cold weather, they have also stocked quilts, blankets and covered their trolleys with tarpaulin. “We are ready for the battle, which may last long,” said BKU (Ekta-Ugarhan) general secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokrikalan. The farmers have said they will not return till the matter is settled.

Haryana on Wednesday wasn’t successful in stopping its own farmers from marching towards Delhi. Breaching barricades and water cannons, thousands are making their way through the state, stopping at Karnal and Sonipat for the night. They plan to resume their journey Thursday. A convoy of farmers and anti-farm bill protestors travelling from Madhya Pradesh to Delhi, led by activist Medha Patkar, was stopped near Agra by the Uttar Pradesh authorities. Medha Patkar has been arrested.

Delhi is undertaking its own security arrangements, deploying forces at the borders, focusing especially on Ghazipur border, Chilla border and DND. Eight companies of paramilitary forces will be stationed at the borders and Metro services curtailed as a precautionary measure.