Chandigarh:
A police officer was injured in a clash between protesting farmers and police on Friday in Khedi Chowpata, Hisar, Haryana. The scenes showed a chaotic and unstable situation; Police – along with riot personnel in full gear – can be seen detaining people while farmers surround them.
The violence – in which tear gas shells were fired and police resorted to lathicharge while protesters pelted stones – broke out after farmers were stopped from marching to Khanauri on the Punjab border.
A tense situation prevails between farmers and police in Haryana’s Hisar district as the police tried to stop the farmers from reaching Khanauri border. @ndtvpic.twitter.com/9UKrpVrVvm
– Mohammad Ghazali (@ghazalimohammad) 23 February 2024
They were on their way to join thousands of others gathered there and at the Shambhu border crossing ahead of the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march to demand a legal guarantee for MSP or minimum support price and waiver of farm loans, pensions and Allback. . Among other things, electricity tariffs increased.
Earlier today, a 62-year-old farmer died of a heart attack in Khanauri.
Read | Another protesting farmer dies, union leader demands job for his family
Darshan Singh was from Bathinda district of Punjab, and was the second person from Bathinda to die in these protests; Shubhakaran Singh, 21, died during a clash with police on Wednesday.
Singh died when the farmers broke the barricades put up by the police at the Khanauri border to stop them from reaching Delhi. Farmer leaders said his body – a (delayed) post-mortem has shown head injuries – will not be cremated unless the Punjab government files a case against the person responsible.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann – who expressed grief over the death of Shubhakaran Singh – said a case would be registered after the postmortem. Announcing compensation of Rs 1 crore and employment for Singh’s sister, the Aam Aadmi Party leader said, “Those responsible will face strict action.”
Read | Farmer’s death: Union leaders say cremation will not take place until FIR is filed
Apart from Darshan Singh and Shubhakaran Singh, at least two others – both over 60 – have died of suspected heart attacks – in these protests, which followed nationwide (and often violent) movements between 2020 and 2021. When thousands of farmers marched on Delhi and set up camps on its borders, effectively blocking the national capital to press their demands.
Read | “6 months’ ration, diesel in trolleys”: Punjab farmers ready for long distance
The deaths forced farmer leaders to halt their Delhi march plans.
However, they have not backed down and show no signs of doing so; Last week a farmer leader told NDTV that they had come with enough food and other essential provisions for six months, and would not leave until their concerns were addressed.
The government has held four rounds of talks with farmers, led by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (the non-political wing of the union that led the 2020/21 protests) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha. Both sides are expected to sit for the fifth round of talks soon.
Meanwhile, the political wing of SKM has declared “Black Friday” and observed the day by burning effigies of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and his Haryana counterpart, Anil Vij, as well as Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.
Read | Black Day, Mahapanchayat: Farmers to launch mega protest today
The federation of farmer unions has also called for a tractor rally on Monday and a one-day program at Ram Leela Maidan in Delhi on March 14. “We will go without tractors… The government keeps saying they are not stopping us, so let’s see…”
The government has made a proposal – a five-year contract to purchase three types of pulses, maize and cotton at the old MSP. This was rejected by farmers, who want MSP coverage extended to all 23 cash crops, legal guarantees given and the Swaminathan Commission’s updated payment formula used.
NDTV explains. Centre’s 5-year MSP scheme, and why farmers aren’t convinced?
A delegation led by Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda is talking to farmers, whose protests come at a particularly bad time for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, with general elections just weeks away. Mr Munda has asked farmers to remain patient and maintain peace and, in comments seen as a dig at the opposition, warned them against allowing outside forces to “hijack” their protests.
NDTV is now available on WhatsApp channels. Click the link To get all the latest updates from NDTV on your chat.
