Amritsar: Farmers, trade unions hold protest, observe black day

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Amritsar, February 23

On the call of the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), the local units of various farm organizations burnt effigies of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Haryana CM M L Khattar at Golden Gate here on Friday. The farmers and trade unions observed a black day.

Protesting against the killing of young farmer Shubhkaran Singh at the Khanauri border, leaders and activists of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee burnt effigies of the Union Home Minister and the Haryana CM. They also raised slogans against the Centre and the Haryana Government.

Gurdev Singh Varpal, leader of the Kisan Sangharsh Committee, said, “Our young farmer Shubhkaran Singh was shot dead at the Khanauri border. At the same time, some young farmers are also missing and some are in illegal detention of the Haryana Police and they are being tortured. Protesting against the police atrocities, farmers burnt effigies of the Haryana Chief Minister and the Union Home Minister across India. The farmers had asked for a place from the government to protest peacefully, but they are treating us like enemies.”

“The government has been trying to depict the peaceful protest of the farmers as a communal issue. The propaganda is being made to turn the farmers’ agitation as Haryana vs Punjab or Hindu vs Sikhs. But we are aware of such tactics of the government. The MSP guarantee is necessary for all the farmers across India. Farmers from Punjab always lead the struggle whether it was against Mughals or British. Now Punjab is leading the fight to prevent the rights and survival of Indian farmers,” said Gurbhachan Singh, another farmers’ leader.

“The Central Government betrayed the farmers in 2021. Even after the assurance of MSP Guarantee Act and promises to fulfil other demands, the government didn’t show any concern. Now they are trying to suppress our constitutional right to protest for demands,” said Gurdev Singh Varpal.