 "Why farmers across India are observing ‘Black Day’ today")
Farmers are outraged in the wake of the death of 22-year-old farmer, Shubkaran Singh, at the Khanauri Border crossing in the Sangrur district of Punjab, during the ongoing protests.
On Thursday, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) demanded that the Haryana chief minister and the Haryana home minister be charged with the “murder.” They also declared a ‘Black Day’ today (23 February) to express their grief.
In addition to Black Day, farmers plan tractor marches on highways across the country on 26 February and a Mahapanchayat in Delhi on 14 March.
Here’s everything that you need to know.
Mega protest over farmer’s death
Farmers are observing a ‘Black Day’ today in the country to mourn the death and will burn effigies of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar, and Home Minister Anil Vij, announced SKM on Thursday.
In an exclusive interview with ANI, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait said on Thursday, “We will observe a ‘Black Friday’ tomorrow to mourn the death of a farmer at the Khanauri Border crossing in Punjab.”
“On 26 February, we will take tractors to the highway, and towards the way that goes to Delhi. It will be a one-day programme, and then we will return. Then, all across India, our meetings will go on. On 14 March, there will be a programme at Ram Leela Ground in Delhi for one day. People will go without tractors to that event. The government keeps saying that they are not stopping us so let’s see if they will stop us or not,” he added.
Meanwhile, the farmers have halted their ‘Dilli Chalo’ protest march for two days to take stock of the ongoing situation on the Shambhu border in Haryana and further decisions will be taken accordingly, the general secretary of the Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee told ANI.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsDemand for murder case
The SKM on Thursday held a meeting to discuss the situation at Shambhu and Khanauri border points where thousands of farmers are camping as part of the ‘Delhi Chalo’ call.
Speaking to reporters, SKM leader Balbir Singh Rajewal said a case of “murder” should be registered against Khattar and Vij and the two must resign.
Farmer leaders also demanded a judicial inquiry by a judge of the Supreme Court in the matter and Rs 1 crore in compensation to the farmer’s family.
Subhkaran Singh, 21, a native of Bathinda, had died Wednesday amid clashes between Haryana Police and Punjab farmers.
The incident took place when the farmers rushed to the barricades, several layers of which have been erected by Haryana authorities to prevent farmers from proceeding with their march, and clashed with police.
The SKM, which spearheaded the 2020-21 farm agitation against the now-repealed farm laws, is not part of the Delhi Chalo agitation but has extended support to it.
Farmers set up a six-member committee to fight together
Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) president Joginder Singh Ugrahan condemned the “repression” of farmers sitting at Shambhu and Khanauri border points by the Haryana government.
Other farmer leaders also accused Khattar and Vij of “orchestrating the repression” of the protesters.
Farmer leader Darshan Pal said the dead farmer had Rs 15-16 lakh in debt and it must be waived.
The SKM has formed a six-member committee, including Rajewal, Ugrahan, Darshan Pal, for coordinating with the breakaway faction — Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) — for fighting unitedly for the cause.
When asked whether the SKM will join the ongoing protest at two points on the Punjab-Haryana border, Rajewal said the SKM is holding its agitation independently.
Several SKM leaders from Punjab, Haryana, and other states participated in the meeting.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) are spearheading the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march to press the government to accept their demands, including a legal guarantee of MSP for crops and a farm loan waiver.
Farmers leaders had on Wednesday put the march on hold for two days after a farmer’s death, who was later identified as Subhkaran Singh, saying they would decide their next course of action Friday evening.
Besides MSP, 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, are also among their demands.
With inputs from PTI
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