In 3rd attempt, 101 Punjab farmers to march towards Delhi today

The farmers will make their third attempt to march towards Delhi from the Shambhu border on Saturday afternoon. Their previous two attempts on December 6 and 8 were thwarted by the Haryana Police and paramilitary personnel as tear gas shells were lobbed at protesters, leaving many farmers injured.

Kisan Mazdoor Morcha leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said farmer leaders Jaswinder Singh Longowal, Malkit Singh Gulamiwala would lead the Marjeevda Jatha of 101 farmers. The farmers alleged that government agencies were trying to sabotage the peaceful protest and turn the public sentiment against farmers.

“We are receiving inputs that some anti-social elements would enter the crowd and attempt to disrupt the peaceful protest. We have informed the authorities about it and alerted our volunteers,” said farmer leaders.

They also welcomed directions of the Supreme Court telling the government to engage in dialogue with farmers to end the standoff.

On the other hand, a controversial statement by BJP’s Rajya Sabha member Ram Chander Jangra has sparked outrage among farmer leaders protesting at the Shambhu border.

Pandher demanded that Jangra be booked for his irresponsible and inflammatory statements, and the saffron party should expel him.

Jangra allegedly said that 700 girls had disappeared near Singhu and Tikri borders during the farmers’ first agitation in 2020-2021.