Another Punjab farmer dies at Shambhu protest; count reaches 40
Another farmer lost his life on Friday at the protest site on the Shambhu border.
The deceased has been identified as 65-year-old Pargat Singh, a resident of Kakkar village in Tehsil Lopoke, Amritsar.
According to Kisan Mazdoor Morcha chief Sarwan Singh Pandher, the farmer had gone to relieve himself in the morning when he collapsed.
Fellow farmers rushed him to the government hospital in Rajpura, where he was declared dead on arrival.
Pargat Singh owned two acres of land and is survived by his three children. Pandher stated that over 40 farmers have died so far at both the Khanauri and Shambhu borders.
"We do not know how many more farmers will have to sacrifice their lives before the government agrees to our demands. In addition to compensation, we demand the waiver of loans taken by farmers from banks or private financial institutions," said Pandher.
3 Kisan Mahapanchayats ahead of crucial talks on February 14
As the Kisan Andolan 2.0 marks its first anniversary on February 13, farmers have decided to organise three Kisan Mahapanchayats from February 11 to 13 to commemorate the movement. Farmer leaders Inderjit Singh Kotbuddha, Lakhwinder Singh Aulakh, and Sukhjit Singh Hardo Jhande announced that these Mahapanchayats will be held under the joint banner of Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha.
No word on third round of talks
On the other hand, days after farm leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal urged all kisan unions to set aside their differences, Joginder Singh Ugrahan, chief of the Bharti Kisan Union (BKU-Ekta Ugrahan), said that they have not received any reply to the proposal of the next round of talks on February 12 to form “Ekta” from Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) and Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM Non-Political) – the two forums protesting at Khanauri and Shambhu borders. Farmer leader, Jagjit Singh Dallewal, whose indefinite fast has reached its 68th day, had earlier said that if the “Ekta” resolution during the kisan mahapanchayat was passed and supported by the people on January 9, then what was the logic behind multiple rounds of meetings between the farm unions at Patran held on January 13 and 18, respectively.