Farmers will continue their protest at the Punjab-Haryana border until February 29, as announced by Sarwan Singh Pandher, the leader of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha. The decision was made on Friday evening at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders. The next update on the protest will be given on February 29, according to Pandher. Additionally, plans for the upcoming days include a candle march on February 24, seminars on farmer-related issues on February 25, burning effigies of the World Trade Organization and the Centre on February 26, and various meetings of SKM and KMM over the next two days.
Mr. Pandher announced that the SKM (Non-Political) and the KMM will organize a candle march on February 24 at the two border points. In addition to this, the protesting farmers are demanding the removal of the agriculture sector from the World Trade Organisation agreement. To address this issue, seminars will be conducted on February 25 at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points. On February 26, the farmers plan to burn effigies of the WTO and the Centre. Furthermore, a meeting of the forums associated with the SKM and KMM will be held on February 27 at the two border points, followed by a joint meeting of the SKM and KMM forums on February 28. The farmer leaders are also in conflict with the Punjab government regarding the registration of an FIR in the death of Shubhkaran Singh.
They have stated that the cremation will not take place until the State government files a case against those responsible for his death. Additionally, they have criticized the Punjab Police for their inability to register an FIR against the Haryana security personnel, whom the protesters hold accountable for Singh’s death. The farmer leaders are also demanding that the State government recognize Singh as a martyr. These developments occurred after Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced a compensation of ₹1 crore and a government job for Singh’s sister. The post-mortem of Singh’s body was delayed as the farmers insisted on the acceptance of their demands. Mr. Pandher expressed disappointment with the Punjab CM’s officials, as they initially promised strict action against those responsible for the young farmer’s death but are now claiming it is not possible.
The ‘Delhi Chalo’ march, led by the SKM (Non-Political) and the KMM, aims to exert pressure on the government to meet their demands. These demands include securing a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price for crops and a farm loan waiver. At present, numerous farmers have set up camps at Khanauri and Shambhu borders, utilizing their tractor-trolleys and trucks, as they continue to protest for their rights. In addition to their primary demands, the farmers from Punjab are also advocating for the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations, pension provisions for farmers and farm laborers, no increase in electricity tariff, withdrawal of police cases, justice for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence, reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act from 2013, and compensation for the families of farmers who lost their lives during a previous agitation in 2020-21.