Chandigarh: A group of 101 farmers will resume “Delhi chalo’’ protest foot-march from Shambhu border on January 21 to press the Centre to accept the farmers’ demands including minimum support price (MSP) for their crops and debt waiver.
Announcing the said protest march, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher on Thursday said that a “jatha’’ (group) of 101 farmers had earlier made three attempts to march towards Delhi on foot on December 6, 8 and 14 last year from Shambhu border, though the same were foiled by Haryana police and Central forces by raining teargas shells which had left about 50 farmers injured.
Slamming Central government for not accepting the demands of farmers who have been camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders of Punjab, Haryana since February 13, 2024, Pandher said it was thus now decided by both the farm unions – Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha to resume the protest march on January 21 and to step up farmers stir till their demands were met. He also rued that the Central government has not only remained indifferent towards their demands but has also not called them to discuss their concerns.
The said farmers’ “jatha” would be led by Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) state president Bakwant Singh Behramke and BKU (Doaba) state president Manjit Singh Rai.
DALLEWAL’S HUNGER STRIKE ENTERS 52nd DAY
It may be recalled that the farmers’ announcement about their said protest foot-march comes a day after 111 farmers began their fast-unto-death in solidarity with the farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal whose fast-unto-death entered 52nd day on Thursday at Khanauri border.
Meanwhile, the Haryana police has also stepped up security around the Khanauri border and imposed section 163 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita banning the assembly of five or more people.
Meanwhile, farmer leaders also flayed the Punjab government for registration of police cases under Section 307 (attempt to murder) against protesting farmers following cancellation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally in Ferozepur on January 5, 2022.
