Farmers taking part within the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march is not going to finish their agitation till their calls for are met, farmer chief Sarwan Singh Pandher mentioned on Saturday whereas indicating that their stir could proceed even after the mannequin code of conduct for the Lok Sabha polls comes into drive.
As the impasse in talks between Union ministers and farmer leaders continued even after 4 rounds of dialogue, the protesters took out a candle march at Shambhu and Khanauri on Punjab’s border with Haryana in reminiscence of the farmer who died in the course of the ongoing agitation.
Shubhkaran (21), a local of Bathinda, was killed within the conflict in Khanauri final Wednesday when some protesters tried to move in the direction of the barricades erected by safety personnel. Shubhkaran’s cremation has not taken place but with farmer leaders being adamant that the Punjab authorities orders registration of an FIR in opposition to these answerable for his demise.
In Delhi, authorities initiated the method of partially reopening the Singhu and Tikri border factors with Haryana, nearly two weeks after these had been sealed due to the farmers’ march.
According to a police officer, the choice was taken after the protesting farmers introduced a halt to the march until the tip of this month. “The situation will remain under watch and, if required, the borders may be shut again,” he mentioned.
Last Wednesday, the march, spearheaded by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM), was placed on maintain by farmer leaders for 2 days after a protester was killed and round 12 police personnel had been injured in clashes at Khanauri. The incident happened when some protesting farmers had been attempting to move in the direction of barricades.
Two days later, farmer leaders mentioned the protesters will proceed to camp at Khanauri and Shambhu factors on Punjab’s border with Haryana until February 29 when the subsequent plan of action will likely be determined. The Haryana authorities has prolonged the suspension of cell web and bulk SMS providers in seven districts of the state by a day until Saturday.
Speaking to reporters on the Shambhu border level on Saturday, KMM chief Pandher mentioned they may announce their subsequent plan of action on February 29. “It is certain that this agitation will continue as long as (our) demands are not met. If they (Centre) accept our demands tomorrow, we will take a decision on the agitation,” he mentioned.
About the imposition of the mannequin code of conduct when the Election Commission proclaims the schedule for the Lok Sabha polls, Pandher mentioned, “We do not have to distribute tickets for MPs. So we do not need to worry about the model code of conduct. We are not going to campaign at polling booths.”
“We are not worried (about the code of conduct). We are thinking that the agitation may continue even when the model code of conduct is in force,” the KMM chief added.
As authorities in Delhi began to take away multi-layer concrete barricades strengthened with nails and barbed wires and vehicles stuffed with sand and boulders at Singhu and Tikri, a police officer mentioned one lane of the service lane on the Singhu border and one lane on the Tikri border are being opened to permit vehicular motion.
The partial reopening of the 2 factors on Delhi’s border with Haryana will convey aid to commuters travelling from Delhi to Haryana, he mentioned. The two border factors had been sealed on February 13 as protesting farmers from Punjab started their ‘Delhi Chalo’ march to press their calls for, together with minimal assist worth (MSP) for crops and a farm mortgage waiver.
Meanwhile, the Congress’ Punjab unit held a protest exterior the workplace of Sangrur senior superintendent of police, demanding the registration of an FIR in opposition to Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij over the police motion in opposition to farmers.
Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring claimed the state police haven’t taken any motion on a grievance filed in opposition to the Haryana dwelling minister for the demise of Shubhkaran Singh. Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa additionally sought registration of an FIR in opposition to Vij.
On Friday, farmer leaders slammed the Punjab Police for expressing its incapability to file an FIR in opposition to safety personnel from Haryana whom the protesters maintain answerable for Shubhkaran Singh’s demise. They additionally demanded that the state authorities accord him ‘martyr’ standing.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has introduced a compensation of Rs 1 crore and a authorities job for Shubhkaran’s sister. Farmers have already introduced to carry a seminar on February 25 on the subject of the WTO settlement.
Among different issues, the protesting farmers are demanding the agriculture sector be taken out of the World Trade Organisation settlement. On February 26, farmers will burn effigies of the WTO and likewise of the Centre.
A gathering of the boards related to the SKM (non-political) and KMM will likely be held on February 27 on the protest websites. A typical assembly of SKM (non-political) and KMM boards will likely be held on February 28.
Thousands of farmers have been staying put at Khanauri and Shambhu, about 200 kilometres from Delhi, together with their tractor-trolleys and vehicles after their march to the nationwide capital to press the Centre for numerous calls for, together with a authorized assure of minimal assist worth (MSP) for crops, was stopped by safety forces.
The Punjab farmers are additionally demanding the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission’s suggestions, pension for farmers and farm labourers, no hike in electrical energy tariff, withdrawal of police instances and “justice” for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence, reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, and compensation to the households of the farmers who died throughout a earlier agitation in 2020-21.
(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed – PTI)
