Farmers’ protest: ‘Delhi Chalo’ March suspended till February 29; Candle March on Saturday
Addressing a press conference at the Khanauri border, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said the next phase of their protest will be decided after February 29.
Farmers protest: The protesting farmers have decided to suspend their ‘Delhi Chalo’ march till February 29. Farmer organizations Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM), which are leading the agitation, announced the next move. will be decided on February 29.
Addressing a press conference at Khanauri border, farmer leaders said they will decide their next course of action on February 29 based on their ‘Delhi Chalo’ call. 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 at the forefront of 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 that they will hold a candle march on February 24 and burn the effigies of the Center on February 26.
On Wednesday, the protesting farmers had suspended the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march for two days after a 21-year-old farmer, Shubhkaran Singh, was killed and around 12 police personnel injured in clashes at the Khanauri border.
No last rites for Shubhkaran until FIR is filed
Earlier in the day, the farmer 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 death.
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 at Khanauri border point on the Punjab-Haryana border on Wednesday amid clashes between Haryana police and farmers from Punjab. The incident took place when the farmers rushed towards the barricades, several layers of which had been erected by the Haryana authorities to prevent farmers from continuing their march, and clashed with the police.
According to the medical superintendent of Rajindra Hospital in Patiala, Subhkaran had a head injury. The autopsy was postponed as the farmers pressed for their demands to be accepted.
Speaking to reporters in Patiala, Pandher said the Punjab Chief Minister had claimed that strict action would be taken against those responsible for Shubhkaran’s death. But now officials say this was not possible, Kisan Mazdoor Morcha leader said.
“We told the family (Shubhkaran) that it could take two or 10 days. Money is not important to us. We demand that an FIR be filed and the cremation take place,” he said, accusing Punjab government officials of “pressuring” Shubhkaran’s family to agree to the cremation.
Peasant protest
Thousands of farmers are camping in Khanauri and Shambhu with their tractor trailers and trucks, agitating for their demands, including a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP) for crops and farm debt waiver.
The farmers of Punjab are also demanding implementation of Swaminathan Commission recommendations, pension for farmers and agricultural laborers, no increase in electricity tariff, withdrawal of police cases and “justice” for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence, restoration of the land acquisition. Act, 2013, and compensation to the families of the farmers who died during an earlier unrest in 2020-2021.
(With input from agencies)