Delhi Chalo Day 5: Muzaffarnagar Panchayat discusses farmer atrocities, next round of talks to be held on Sunday Highlights

Protesting farmers, mainly from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, continued their protest as their ‘Delhi chalo’ march entered its fifth day on Thursday. The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) said it will intensify its agitation in the coming days following protests by farmer groups. Mixed reactions were observed on Thursday across much of northern India, along with trade unions and other organizations.

A ‘mahapanchayat’ will be organized in Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar on Saturday to discuss the “atrocities” being committed against protesting farmers in the country. Meanwhile, mobile internet services will remain suspended in seven districts of Haryana, including Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaital, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad and Sirsa.

On the morning of February 13, farmers in Punjab began a ‘Delhi Chalo’ march to press for their demands, with heavy roadblocks erected at the Haryana-Punjab border and entry points in the national capital. However, they were stopped by security personnel at Shambhu and Khanauri points on the Punjab-Haryana border. Protesters have remained at the two border crossings since then.

More than 200 farmer unions, including the Samyukta Kisan Morcha and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, are taking part in the march to force the Center to accept their demands.

Apart from legal safeguards for MSP, farmers also demand implementation of Swaminathan Commission recommendations, pension for farmers and farm workers, farm debt waiver, no hike in power tariffs, withdrawal of police cases and justice for victims in 2021. Lakhimpur Kheri violence, restoration of the Land Acquisition Act 2013, and compensation to the families of farmers who died in previous riots in 2020-21.

Farmers’ protests: Here’s a list of progress so far

• Haryana police on Friday fired tear gas shells to disperse protesting farmers as they walked towards a roadblock at the Shambhu border near Ambala, a day after talks between Union ministers and farmer leaders remained inconclusive.
• Indian Kisan League leader Rakesh Tikait on Wednesday said a “mahapanchayat” will be organized in Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar on Saturday to discuss the “atrocities” being committed against protesting farmers in the country. Farmers and BKU activists from Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi and Haryana have been advised to attend the rally at ‘Kisan Bhawan’ in West Sauli.
• Amid the impasse, Union ministers and farmer leaders will hold the fourth round of talks on February 18. The two sides also held meetings on February 8, 12 and 15, but the talks still produced no results.
• Haryana police on Friday released a series of video clips in which several farmers allegedly hurled stones at the Shambhu border and tried to provoke security personnel.
• Farmer leaders who spearheaded the ‘Delhi Chalo’ call alleged that Haryana security personnel used “force” against the protesters, hurling tear gas shells and firing rubber bullets at them, leaving many injured.
• A 63-year-old farmer who was among the protesters at the Shambhu border died of a heart attack on Friday on the fourth day of protests. According to officials, Gyan Singh, who hails from Gurdaspur district in Punjab, complained of chest pain in the morning and was admitted to Civil Hospital in Rajpura, Punjab. From there, he was rushed to Rajendra Hospital in Patiala where doctors declared him dead.
• The Center and farmers will meet again on Sunday to discuss the way forward, with talks currently stuck on three key demands: legal assurance to MSP, use of comprehensive cost formula (C2+50%) to achieve this and farm loans relief.