Chandigarh, 12 Feb

Farmers' leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal on Monday alleged that many agriculturists, who were coming from other states including Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh to support the 'Delhi Chalo' march, have been detained and sought their release.

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha have announced that more than 200 farm unions would march to Delhi on 13 February to press the Centre to accept several demands, including the enactment of a law to guarantee a minimum support price (MSP) for crops.

Dallewal claimed that several farmers coming from Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka, owing allegiance to SKM have been detained in Bhopal. "On one side, they (the Centre) are holding dialogues with us and on the other hand they are detaining our people. Then how will this dialogue take place?" said Dallewal, who is the SKM leader. "We have told the government that it should release our persons. The government needs to create a positive atmosphere for dialogue," he further said.

"If the government is saying that it is positive, the farmers are more positive (for dialogue). We do not have any intention to indulge in ruckus and cause any damage. We are such people who hold peaceful protests," said Dallewal, who is the president of Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta Sidhupur). Dallewal slammed the Haryana government for making heavy security arrangements at the Punjab-Haryana borders and "harassing" farmers who wanted to join the 'Delhi Chalo' march. On the one side the government is holding dialogue with farmers and on the other hand heavy barricading has been done at the Punjab-Haryana borders, he said.