Farmers hold show of strength ahead of talks with central team

Farmer bodies held a show of strength on Friday to mark the death anniversary of farm activist Shubhkaran Singh, who had died of a bullet wound when Punjab farmers’ march to Delhi was halted by the Haryana Police at the inter-state border of Khanauri on February 21 last year.

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The Haryana Police had rejected that the youth died from a bullet fired by them. The Punjab Police had registered a murder case against unknown persons.

The show of strength came a day ahead of the protesting farmers’ talks with Union government representatives, expected to be led by Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

The Centre had formally invited the protesting farmer bodies for a second round of talks on Wednesday. The talks are scheduled to take place at the Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration in Chandigarh at 6 pm. The farmers held events to mark the death anniversary at both Shambhu and Khanauri border points with Haryana.

Beside, a huge congregation was held at Shubhkaran’s native village Baloh in Bathinda.

Addressing farmers at Shambhu, Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) convener Sarwan Singh Pandher said 43 farmers had lost their lives during the ongoing protests.

He said the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the KMM have finalised their respective 14-member delegations to attend the discussions and present their demands before the government. The delegations will be led by fasting farm leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal and Pandher.

With limited progress made on key issues in the previous meeting held on February 14 with Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, the upcoming talks are being viewed as a crucial opportunity for the farmers.

Remove blockade: Pandher

“We have a bright chance, as Chouhan, before taking charge as the Agriculture Minister, served as the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh for four terms. He may better understand the plight of farmers,” said Pandher.

Besides a legal guarantee for crop MSP, the farmers are demanding debt waiver, pension for farmers and farm labourers, no hike in electricity tariffs, withdrawal of police cases and justice for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence.

Addressing reproters, Pandher demanded the removal of barricades at Shambhu and Khanauri borders.

“We will press the government to remove the blockade from both borders. We want the traffic to flow freely and trade to continue. Misinformation is being spread that farmers have blocked the roads. We are not causing any obstruction, and in tomorrow’s meeting, we will firmly put forth our demand to remove the barricades from both borders,” said Pandher.