English
Farmers Protest: The protesting farmers have decided to suspend their ‘Delhi Chalo’ march till February 29. Farmers’ bodies, Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM), which are spearheading the agitation, announced that the next course of action will be decided on February 29.
Addressing a press conference at the Khanauri border, the farmer leaders said they will decide their next course of action on their ‘Delhi Chalo’ call on February 29,. The farmer leaders also announced a candle march on Saturday and burning of Centre’s effigies two days later.
The SKM (Non-Political) and the (KMM) are spearheading the ongoing agitation at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Haryana and Punjab over various demands including a legal guarantee for MSP.
“The next announcement about the agitation will be made on February 29,” KMM leader Sarwan Singh Pandher told the media at the Khanauri border point.
Pandher also announced they will hold a candle march on February 24 and will burn the effigies of the Centre on February 26.
On Wednesday, the protesting farmers had put the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march on hold for two days after a 21-year-old farmer, Shubhkaran Singh, was killed and about 12 police personnel were injured in clashes at the Khanauri border.
Earlier in the day, the farmers leaders participating in the ‘Delhi Chalo’ agitation announced that Shubhkaran Singh will not be cremated until the Punjab government registers a case against those responsible for his demise.
The development came hours after Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced a compensation of Rs 1 crore and a government job for Shubhkaran’s sister.
Subhkaran Singh, a native of Bathinda, died on Wednesday at Khanauri border point on the Punjab-Haryana border amid clashes between Haryana Police and Punjab farmers. The incident took place when the farmers rushed to the barricades, several layers of which had been erected by Haryana authorities to prevent farmers from proceeding with their march, and clashed with police.
According to the medical superintendent of Patiala-based Rajindra Hospital, Subhkaran had an injury to his head. The post-mortem was delayed as the farmers pressed for acceptance of their demands.
Speaking to reporters in Patiala, Pandher said the Punjab chief minister had asserted that stringent action would be taken against those responsible for Shubhkaran’s death. But now the officials are saying that it was not possible, the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha leader said.
“We have told the (Shubhkaran) family that it may take two days or 10 days. For us money is not important. We are demanding that an FIR be lodged and then cremation will take place,” he said and accused Punjab government officials of “pressuring” Shubhkaran’s family into agreeing to the cremation.
Thousands of farmers are camped at Khanauri and Shambhu with their tractor-trolleys and trucks agitating for their demands, including a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP) for crops and farm debt waiver.
The Punjab farmers are also demanding the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations, pension for farmers and farm labourers, no hike in electricity tariff, withdrawal of police cases and “justice” for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence, reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, and compensation to the families of the farmers who died during a previous agitation in 2020-21.
(With inputs from agencies)
