Amidst the ongoing farmers’ protests at the Punjab-Haryana border, a young farmer lost his life allegedly due to police action, prompting a temporary hold on the Delhi Chalo march until Friday. Subhkaran Singh, a 21-year-old from Punjab’s Bathinda district, succumbed to a head injury during clashes between protesters and security forces at Khanauri border. However, Haryana Police asserted the report to be “just a rumour”.
Subhkaran, known for his involvement in animal husbandry and small-scale farming, had been seeking for government’s consideration of their ten demands and had joined the protests on February 13. Prior to his demise, he prepared breakfast for fellow demonstrators, displaying the importance of unity and camaraderie in their cause.
To prevent the advancing farmers from breaching the barricades at the border, the Haryana Police had fired tear gas shells. After the farmer leaders declined the government’s proposal during the fourth round of talks to break the deadlock, the march was continuing.
Asserting that two policemen and one protester were injured at Data Singh-Khanori border and he is currently undergoing treatment, the Haryana Police on social media posted, “According to the information received so far, no farmer has died today… This is just a rumour.”
As tensions escalated with clashes and injuries reported, farmer leaders made the decision to halt the Delhi Chalo march for two days, when they will reassess the situation and determine the next steps on Friday. Criticism mounted against the Central and State Governments for their handling of the protests.
The government has already taken numerous steps towards issues of protesting farmers like doubling the Minimum Support Price-MSP and increasing the procurement by more than two times. Additionally, they were given assurance regarding support prices, stated Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur. The Narendra Modi Government has spent ₹18.39 lakh crore in the last 10 years on procurement of wheat, paddy, oilseeds, and pulses as against ₹5.5 lakh crore by the UPA regime, he added.
They however rejected a proposal offering them five-year contracts of guaranteed prices on a set of certain crops. These included maize, grain legumes, and cotton. Farmers are demanding new legislation with guarantee of minimum prices for 23 crops. The farmers believe this would help stabilise their income.
Meanwhile, the Haryana Government extended the ban on mobile internet and bulk SMS services in Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad, and Sirsa till February 23. As per the Haryana administration, at least 12 police personnel have been seriously injured following a clash between protesting farmers and Haryana Police amid the Delhi Chalo march at the Data Singh-Khanauri border.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ordered an investigation into grievances raised by farmers in Gautam Buddh Nagar.
