Thousands of farmers are still encamped near the border of Khanauri and Shambhu, shaking for their demands with their trucks and tractor-trolleys. Leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said on Friday that farmers who are protesting on behalf of their demands for higher prices for their crops will remain at the two interstate border points until February 29 when the next step of action will be decided.
A Delhi Chalo march by thousands of farmers started last week, but approximately 200 kilometers north of the capital, security forces broke it up. Samyukt Kisan Morcha, which had previously refrained from protesting, joined the uproar after a farmer lost his life in gunfire with security personnel. The most recent update on the farmer’s protest are as follows:
Leader of the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha Pandher announced February 24 there will a candle march, on February 25 there will be seminars on issues pertaining to farmers, on February 26 there will be statues of the World Trade Organization and the Center burned and over the next two days there will be multiple meetings of SKM (Non-Political) and KMM.
In an effort to broaden their protection, farmers on Friday burned statues of prime Minister Narendra Modi and other members of his administration. On Friday, tractors and trolleys parked at the protected site were adorned with black flags.
Farmer leaders had demanded that Singh be declared a martyr and his family be given financial support and a job.
Participating farmer leaders in the Delhi Chalo agitation said that the cremation of Shubhkaran Singh has been postponed until the Punjab government files a case against them they believe to be at fault. Even though Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann promised Shubhkaran’s sister a job and compensation, farmer leaders demand that the perpetrators be held and coerced Shubhkaran’s family into accepting the cremation in exchange for not meeting their demands.
A Supreme Court petition was filed pleading with the Indian government to respond to the justifiable requests of farmers conducting nonviolent demonstration. The Sikh Chamber of Commerce’s managing end to violence against protestors, and a response to farmer’s requests to implement the recommendations of the Swaminathan committee.
The National Security Act provisions against certain farmer leaders involved in the current farmer’s agitation are being rescinded according to the Haryana Police.
Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher confirmed that darshan Singh, 2, of Amargarh village in Bathinda district, died of a heart attack while taking part in the Delhi Chalo agitation at Khanauri on the Punjab- Haryana border.
Farmers demanding a minimum support price were advised to be patient by Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Jayant Chaudhary, who assured them that a solution would undoubtedly be found. He lamented the young farmer’s death during the fighting at the Khanauri border between Punjab and Haryana and asked both sides to exercise restraint.
