Farmers Agitation Tear Gassed by drones

[dalvinder45]

Mr A Seeker: Please calculate the loss of farmers when they do no get MSP (it is minimum and not maximum as they govt stamps on other products) in terms of non sustainability of farming, abandonment of farming, suicides by farmers and breaking of families as most of their crops have to be thrown away as these do not meet even the cost of carrying to mandis what to talk of the cost of labour, seeds and machinery . Only those who face the extreme heat and cold know the real price and not the babus sitting in Air conditioned offices.

 

[Logical Sikh]

Imagine if farmers agreed on 5 crops msp, then the whole nation's farmers would grow those crops only. It would be disastrous.

 

[dalvinder45]

Haryana police fire tear gas at farmers again
February 21, 2024 11:59

Tear gas caused injuries to farmers
Tear gas shells were fired by Haryana security personnel after some young farmers were heading towards the multi-layered barricades at the Shambhu border point at Punjab and Haryana on Wednesday.
After Haryana Police lobbed tear gas canisters at around 11 am, young farmers ran for cover.
Farmers, protesting at the two border points of Punjab and Haryana, will resume their 'Delhi Chalo' march today after they rejected the BJP-led Centre's proposal for procuring pulses, maize and cotton at the MSP by government agencies for five years.
Thousands of farmers, who began the march to Delhi on February 13, were stopped at the Haryana border itself, where they clashed with security personnel.
The farmers have been camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri points on Punjab's border with Haryana since then. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha are spearheading the 'Delhi Chalo' march to press the government to accept their demands, including a legal guarantee of MSP for crops and a farm loan waiver. PTI

 

[dalvinder45]

14,000 farmers, 1200 tractors gear up for Delhi Chalo march​

Source: PTI
February 21, 2024 09:55 IST
Farmers protesting at two border points between Punjab and Haryana will resume their "Delhi Chalo" march on Wednesday after they rejected the Centre's proposal for procuring pulses, maize and cotton at the MSP by government agencies for five years.

IMAGE: Protesting farmers bring heavy machinery, including hydraulic cranes and earthmovers, to Shambhu on the Punjab-Haryana border as their 'Delhi Chalo' protest march is to resume on February on Tuesday. Photograph: ANI Photo
Thousands of farmers, who began their march to Delhi on February 13, were stopped at the Haryana border, where they clashed with security personnel.
The farmers have been camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri points between Punjab and Haryana since then.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha are spearheading the "Delhi Chalo" march to press the BJP-led Centre to accept their demands, including a legal guarantee on the minimum support price (MSP) for crops and farm loan waiver.

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The last round of talks between the farmers and the government ended past midnight on Sunday when a panel of ministers proposed buying five crops -- moong dal, urad dal, tur dal, maize and cotton -- from farmers at the MSP for five years through central agencies.​

The Centre has estimated that nearly 14,000 people have gathered along the Punjab-Haryana border with 1,200 tractor-trolleys, 300 cars, 10 mini-buses as well as small vehicles and conveyed its strong objections to the Punjab government for it, sources said on Tuesday.
In a communication to the Punjab government, the Union Home Ministry also said that the deteriorating law-and-order situation in the state has been a matter of concern over the last few days and asked it to take stringent action against lawbreakers.
The home ministry said many miscreants in the guise of farmers were indulging in stone-pelting, mobilising heavy machinery along the Shambhu on Punjab's border with Haryana.
Protesting farmers have been staying put at Shambhu and Khanauri points on Punjab's border with Haryana after their 'Delhi Chalo' march to press the Centre for various demands, including a legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) for crops, was stopped by security forces which led to clashes last week.

IMAGE: Farmers gather at the Punjab-Haryana Shambhu border. Photograph: ANI Photo
Farmer leaders taking part in agitation on Monday rejected the Centre's proposal of procuring pulses, maize and cotton at MSP by government agencies for five years, saying it was not in farmers' interest and announced that they will march towards the national capital on Wednesday.
As per the reports prepared by central security agencies, nearly 14,000 people have been allowed to gather at the Shambhu barrier on Rajpura-Ambala Road, with nearly 1,200 tractor-trolleys, 300 cars, 10 mini-buses and other small vehicles, the home ministry said.
Similarly, Punjab has allowed a gathering of around 4,500 people with close to 500 tractor-trolleys at the Dhabi-Gujran barrier, it claimed.
The deteriorating law-and-order situation in Punjab has been a matter of concern over the last few days, since it seems to have freely allowed miscreants and law-breakers in the guise of protest to indulge in stone-pelting, mobilising heavy machinery on the border with a marked intention of spreading unrest and disorder in neighbouring states, the home ministry told the Punjab government.
In view of the above, it is requested to take immediate review and stringent action to curb all such disrupting activities in the guise of farmers' protest, it said.
The home ministry also said that as per reports, the court has asked the Punjab government to ensure that protestors do not gather in large numbers, especially raising serious objections on the use of tractor-trolleys, JCBs and other heavy equipment on highways.
As per reports from central security agencies, there has been a marked deterioration in the law-and-order machinery in Punjab in handling the recent agitation by a few groups of farmers protesting in the state, the home ministry told the Punjab government asking it to take action on it.
At the Shambhu border point, the farmers have brought excavators in order to make their way through the multi-layered barricades set up by the Haryana security personnel. Some of the farmers are carrying masks to protect themselves from tear-gas shells.
Tight security arrangements are in place at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points.
The Haryana Police has urged its Punjab counterpart to seize bulldozers and other earthmoving equipment from the inter-state border, which they say the protesters will use to break the barricades.
These could pose a threat to the security forces deployed at the border, Haryana Director General of Police (DGP) Shatrujeet Kapoor has said in an urgent communication to his Punjab counterpart, Gaurav Yadav.
Later, in a communication to senior police officers, the Punjab DGP said no JCB machines and other heavy earthmoving equipment should be allowed to reach the Khanauri and Shambu border points as inputs indicate that the protesters plan to break the barricades and enter Haryana.
"It is reliably learnt that heavy earthmoving equipment, including proclain (digger), JCB etc., that have been further modified/armour-plated have been acquired by protesting farmers and have been deployed at the border locations where the protesters are camping right now," the letter written by the Haryana DGP stated.
"These machines are meant to be used by the protesters to damage the barricades, thereby posing serious danger to the police and paramilitary forces deployed on duty, and are likely to compromise the security scenario in Haryana," it said.

 

[dalvinder45]

Tear gas used at farmers as govt calls for fresh talks​

Source: PTI
Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda on Wednesday invited the protesting farmers for a fifth round of discussion on all issues including the MSP (minimum support price).

IMAGE: Farmers, marching towards New Delhi to press for better crop prices promised to them in 2021, throw tear gas back towards police, at Shambhu, a border crossing between Punjab and Haryana states on February 14, 2024. Photograph: Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters
The minister also appealed to the protesting farmers to maintain peace and engage in a dialogue to find a solution.

https://www.rediff.com/news/interview/govt-wakes-up-only-when-you-come-on-the-roads/20240221.htm​

"We are ready to discuss all the issues, be it MSP or crop diversification. We can find a solution only through dialogue. I have invited them for the discussion and appealed to them to maintain peace and find a solution that is good for everyone," Munda told reporters in New Delhi.
Meanwhile, tear gas shells were fired by Haryana security personnel after some young farmers were heading towards the multi-layered barricades at the Shambhu border point at Punjab and Haryana.
After Haryana Police lobbed tear gas canisters at around 11 am, young farmers ran for cover.
Farmer leaders of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, who are leading the 'Delhi Chalo' agitation, have threatened to resume their march from Punjab and Haryana borders on Wednesday after the fourth round of talks failed on February 18.
In the fourth rounds of talks with the farmer leaders on February 18, a panel of three Union ministers had proposed purchase of pulses, maize and cotton crops by government agencies at MSP for five years after entering into a contract with farmers.

But the farmer leaders have rejected the government's proposal and threatened to resume their march towards the national capital.
A legal guarantee of MSP and pension for farmers are some of the key demands of the protesting farmers.

 

[dalvinder45]

1 killed in Haryana police crackdown on protesting farmers​

Source: PTI

A farmer was killed and a few others injured on the Punjab-Haryana border as protesters resumed their 'Delhi Chalo' agitation, with Haryana Police firing tear gas shells to thwart attempts to breach barricades at Shambhu and Khanauri.

IMAGE: Security personnel stand guard at the Khanauri Border in Sangrur district on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, during the farmers 'Delhi Chalo' march. Photograph: ANI Photo

Farmer leaders had rejected a proposal made by the government in the fourth round of talks between the two sides to break the deadlock and announced that thousands of Punjab farmers camping at these two border points would resume their agitation on Wednesday morning.
Earlier in the day, Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda, who is among the three Union ministers engaging with the farmer leaders, called for further talks and appealed to the protesters to maintain peace.

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Farmers tear-gassed even as govt calls for fresh tal​

Farmer leader Baldev Singh Sirsa identified the victim as Subhkaran Singh (21), who died at Khanauri on the Sangrur-Jind border. Singh was a resident of Baloke village in Punjab's Bathinda district, and was only brother of three sister, whose mother died recently, he said.

Patiala-based Rajindra Hospital's medical superintendent H S Rekhi told reporters that three people, one of them dead, were brought to the hospital from Khanauri. The deceased had an injury to his head and the other two are stable, Rekhi said.
https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasi...+These+are+'stories+I+can+tell&obOrigUrl=true
The farmers claimed that Haryana police personnel fired rubber bullets, besides tear gas shells.

To press the Centre to accept their demands, including a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP) for crops and farm debt waiver, the farmers are camping at the border points since February 13 along with their tractor-trolleys, mini-vans and pickup trucks.

Heavy earthmoving equipment, including excavators, and modified tractors were also seen at the protest sites, with police cautioning that these might be used to break barricades and cause harm to security personnel.

The farmers claimed that Haryana police personnel fired rubber bullets, besides tear gas shells.
To press the Centre to accept their demands, including a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP) for crops and farm debt waiver, the farmers are camping at the border points since February 13 along with their tractor-trolleys, mini-vans and pickup trucks.
Heavy earthmoving equipment, including excavators, and modified tractors were also seen at the protest sites, with police cautioning that these might be used to break barricades and cause harm to security personnel.
During the last round of talks, which ended past midnight Sunday, the panel of three Union ministers had proposed buying five crops -- moong dal, urad dal, tur dal, maize and cotton -- from farmers at MSP for five years through central agencies.
Police fired the tear gas shells to disperse some farmers who started moving towards the multiple layers of barricades at Shambhu and Khanauri border points.
There have been at least three rounds of tear gas shelling at Shambhu near Ambala in Haryana. A drone was also used by security personnel there to drop tear gas shells.
Many protesting farmers were seen wearing masks and glasses to protect themselves from the gas.
Drones are also being used by police to keep an eye on the activities of the farmers on the other side of the barricades.
Union Agriculture Minister Munda has appealed to the protesters to maintain peace and resolve issues through discussions.
He has invited the leaders for a fifth round of talks on all issues, including that related to MSP.
Addressing protesters at Shambhu, farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal asked them to maintain peace and calm if they wanted to win.
"Do you want to win or not?" he asked the farmers.
He also mentioned the 'victory' of farmers during the 2020-21 agitation against the now-repealed farm laws.
Dallewal cautioned the farmers to be wary of elements who could damage the agitation.
Earlier in the day, while speaking to reporters, he said farmers will march towards Delhi in a peaceful manner.
"Our intention is not to disturb peace," Dallewal asserted.
While accusing the Centre of indulging in 'delaying tactics' over the farmers' demands, Dallewal said it should take a decision in their favour.
He also condemned the government for installing multiple layers of barricades at the Punjab-Haryana border points to prevent the farmers from heading towards Delhi.
In a post on X, the Haryana Police asked owners of excavators to withdraw their machines from the protest sites. If they do not do so, action will be taken, it said.
'For owners and operators of poclains, JCBs: Please do not provide your equipment to the protestors and withdraw them from the protest site if already done, as they may be used to cause harm to security forces. It is a non-bailable offence and you may be held criminally liable,' police said in a post on X.
The Haryana Police on Tuesday had urged its Punjab counterpart to seize bulldozers and other earthmoving equipment from the inter-state border points, saying protesters might use these to break barricades.
These could pose a threat to security forces, Haryana Director General of Police Shatrujeet Kapoor had said in an urgent communication to his Punjab counterpart Gaurav Yadav.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha are spearheading the 'Delhi Chalo' march to press the government to accept the farmers' demands.
Talks between the farmer leaders and three Union ministers -- Piyush Goyal, Munda and Nityananad Rai -- have been held on February 8, 12, 15 and 18.
The farmers are also demanding the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations, pension for farmers and farm labourers, no hike in electricity tariff, withdrawal of police cases and 'justice' for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence, reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, and compensation to the families of the farmers who died during a previous agitation in 2020-21.

 

[A_seeker]

Pandher said farmers have three big demands -- a legal guarantee on the MSP for all crops, the implementation of the "C2 plus 50 per cent" formula as recommended by the Swaminathan Commission and a farm loan waiver.

Dr . Manmohan Singh a Sikh was a PM of India for 10 years.He was a great economist .But
1. He never gave legal Guarantee on MSp
2. Did not implement Swaminathan Commision Report

It just remninds me of a famous quote "Paise Ped par nahe ugte hain..

Any common man who understands basic economic will know that MSP laws woudn't help it will raise the INFLATION and destroy the Indian economy ..

 

[dalvinder45]

Noida farmers call off tomorrow's Delhi march

The Friday's proposed "Delhi march" of protesting farmers in Noida and Greater Noida has been called off after their meeting with the local administration and the police, a protesting group said.

The Thursday's announcement comes a day after Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ordered formation of a three-member committee to look into the issue and resolve the woes of the farmers, who are demanding higher compensation and developed plots in lieu of their land acquired by the government in the past.

Thousands of farmers from around 200 villages, who are protesting against the local authorities in Noida and Greater Noida, and the National Thermal Power Corporation (Dadri), had on February 8 made an unsuccessful attempt to go to Parliament to press for their demands but were stopped at the Delhi border here by the police.

Representatives of Bharatiya Kisan Parishad, All India Kisan Sabha and Jai Jawan Jai Kisan Morcha on Thursday afternoon held a meeting with the local police officers and the administration, including district magistrate Manish Kumar Verma, in Greater Noida.

"As you all know, the Bharatiya Kisan Parishad had held demonstrations at Noida Authority office and at NTPC office while All India Kisan Sabha was protesting at Greater Noida Authority's office and Jai Jawan Jai Kisan Morcha protesting against Ansal Group. On February 8, we had marched towards Delhi together," BKP's leader Sukhbir Yadav 'Khalifa' said after the meeting. -- PTI

 

[dalvinder45]

Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher on Thursday demanded registration of a murder case against those responsible for the death of a protesting farmer at the Khanauri border point of Punjab-Haryana. SKM has demanded removal of Home Minister of centre and Haryana and CM of haryana to be remved and FIRs filed against them.

IMAGE: Agitating farmers move away after Haryana police fire tear gas shells to disperse them as they resume their Delhi Chalo March, at the Shambhu border (Punjab-Haryana) in Patiala on Wednesday. Photograph: ANI Photo

Pandher also said the Punjab government should take action against the Haryana paramilitary force personnel for allegedly damaging 25-30 tractor-trolleys after entering into the state's territory.

A farmer was killed and about 12 police personnel were injured in clashes at Khanauri on the Punjab-Haryana border on Wednesday.

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Subhkaran Singh (21), hailing from Bathinda district, died at Khanauri on the Sangrur-Jind border. Eye witnesses claim that the firing on agitators was done by persons in civil dress and claim them to be volunteers of RSS. This needs to be corroborated by evidence.​

Speaking to reporters in Patiala, Pandher accused the Haryana security personnel of entering into the Punjab territory and using 'force' against farmers at Khanauri border point.

"We want the Punjab government to register a case under Section 302 (murder of the IPC)," said Pandher.

Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal demanded that the Punjab government give the status of martyr to Shubkaran.

Dallewal also demanded that the Punjab government take notice of Haryana security personnel allegedly damaging 25-30 tractor-trolleys in Punjab's territory.

The farmer leaders also gave a call for putting up black flags atop houses and in vehicles to register their protest against the death of the farmer at the Khanauri border.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday said he was saddened by the farmer's death and asserted that stringent action would be taken against those responsible for it.

"After the postmortem, a case will be registered. The officials responsible for his death will have to face stringent action," Mann had said.

Farmers leaders on Wednesday put the 'Delhi Chalo' march on hold for two days after the farmer's death and said that they would decide their next course of action on Friday evening.

Police on Wednesday fired tear gas shells at the two border points multiple times to disperse groups of protesters when they attempted to move towards the layers of barricades stalling their march to the national capital.

Thousands of farmers remain camped at Khanauri and Shambhu with their tractor-trolleys and trucks agitating for their demands, including a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP) for crops and farm debt waiver.




The Punjab farmers are also demanding the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations, pension for farmers and farm labourers, no hike in electricity tariff, withdrawal of police cases and 'justice' for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence, reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, and compensation to the families of the farmers who died during a previous agitation in 2020-21.

SKM pledges to mobilise farmers nationwide and hold talks for action plan. February 23 to be observed as Black Day after death of farmer at Punjab-Haryana border​

SKM leaders said the Punjab government should lodge an FIR under Section 302 (charges of murder) against Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and State Home Minister Anil Vij and the police, over the death of the young farmer. They also demanded a judicial probe by a Supreme Court judge into the firing and the damage caused to tractors, which they alleged were damaged by the Haryana Police at the protest site.

It was decided in the meeting that a six-member committee including Hannan Mollah, Joginder Singh Ugrahan, Balbeer Singh Rajewal, Yudhavir Singh, Darshan Pal and Raminder Patiala would hold consultations with all former SKM members to chalk out an action plan and to unite all farmer organisations that were part of the SKM.
The leaders said that SKM would observe February 23 as a Black Day (Akrosh Diwas) by burning effigies and holding demonstrations
lso, a call was made to observe February 26 as ‘Quit WTO Day’ by conducting marches and parking tractors on national and State highways as part of the protest
The SKM has planned to hold a ‘Kisan Mazdoor Mahapanchayat’ on March 14 at Ramlila ground, New Delhi

Meanwhile, the Opposition parties in Punjab have blamed the State government for the farmer’s death. Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Majithia said Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s failure to register a case against the Haryana Police when they acted against farmers in Punjab on February 13 had led to the killing of Shubhkaran Singh

eader of the Opposition and Congress MP Partap Singh Bajwa said the Haryana police have been firing tear-gas shells and rubber bullets on farmers. “However, the Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann failed to lodge an FIR against the Haryana Police. It establishes that CM Mann has become the BJP’s puppet,” he said

 

[dalvinder45]

Farmer leaders participating in the 'Delhi Chalo' agitation on Friday said the cremation of Shubhkaran Singh, who died amid clashes between Haryana Police and Punjab farmers, will not take place till the Punjab government registers a case against those responsible for it.

IMAGE: Farmers burn the effigy during a protest against the central government in support of their demands during the ongoing 'Delhi Chalo' march, in Patiala on Friday. Photograph: ANI Photo

The development came hours after Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced a compensation of Rs 1 crore and a government job for Shubhkaran's sister.

Subhkaran Singh, 21, a native of Bathinda, died on Wednesday at Khanauri border point on the Punjab-Haryana border amid clashes between Haryana Police and Punjab farmers. The incident took place when the farmers rushed to the barricades, several layers of which had been erected by Haryana authorities to prevent farmers from proceeding with their march, and clashed with police. According to the medical superintendent of Patiala-based Rajindra Hospital, Subhkaran had an injury to his head.
The post-mortem was delayed as the farmers pressed for acceptance of their demands.

Speaking to reporters in Patiala, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said the Punjab chief minister had asserted that stringent action would be taken against those responsible for Shubhkaran's death.
But now the officials are saying that it was not possible, the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha leader said.

"We have told the (Shubhkaran) family that it may take two days or 10 days. For us money is not important. We are demanding that an FIR be lodged and then cremation will take place," he said and accused Punjab government officials of 'pressuring' Shubhkaran's family into agreeing to the cremation.

Replying to a question, Jagjit Singh Dallewal, leader of SKM (Non-Political) that is spearheading the 'Delhi Chalo' march along with the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, claimed the senior superintendent of police of Bathinda has said that police could not register a case against Haryana security personnel.

"If you cannot register a case, then how can you call yourself 'Punjab de rakhe' (Punjab's protector)," Dallewal posed, adding the police officer told them that if they registered a case, then Haryana security personnel would also do so.

Replying to another question, Dallewal said, "A youth died during our agitation. Our priority is to ensure justice for him. We are concentrating on it. It is up to the Punjab government how soon it will give justice to us."

Asked about the next course of action on the call for the march to the national capital, Pandher said, "We will hold a meeting and make our stand clear."

Punjab CM Mann on Friday announced compensation and a job for Shubhkaran's sister.

'The family of Shubhkaran Singh, who got martyred during the farmer's movement at Khanauri border, will be given financial assistance of Rs 1 crore by the Punjab government and a government job to his younger sister. Due legal action will be taken against culprits,' he said in a post on 'X' in Punjabi.

Farmers leaders were also demanding 'martyr' status for Shubhkaran Singh.

Mann on Wednesday said he was saddened by the death of the young farmer and asserted that stringent action would be taken against those responsible for it.

"After post-mortem, a case will be registered. Those officials responsible for his death will have to face stringent action," he had said.

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha, which spearheaded the 2020-21 farmers' stir, has announced that farmers would observe a 'black day' on Friday to mourn the death and will burn effigies of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, and state home minister Anil Vij.

It said farmers will take out tractor marches on highways on February 26 and hold an All India All Kisan Mazdoor Mahapanchayat at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi on March 14.

The SKM is not part of the Delhi Chalo agitation but has extended support to it.

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) are spearheading the 'Delhi Chalo' march to press the government to accept their demands, including a legal guarantee of MSP for crops and a farm loan waiver.

Farmer leaders on Wednesday put the 'Delhi Chalo' march on hold for two days after a protester was killed and about 12 police personnel injured in clashes at Khanauri and had also said that they would decide their next course of action on Friday evening.

Thousands of farmers remain camped at Khanauri and Shambhu with their tractor-trolleys and trucks agitating for their demands, including a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP) for crops and farm debt waiver.
They are also demanding the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations, pension for farmers and farm labourers, no hike in electricity tariff, withdrawal of police cases and 'justice' for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence, reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, and compensation to the families of the farmers who died during a previous agitation in 2020-21.

 

[dalvinder45]

Police on Friday used tear gas to disperse Haryana farmers heading towards Khanauri on Punjab's border with the state where farmers, mostly from Punjab, have been camping since last week after their 'Delhi Chalo' march was halted by security forces.

IMAGE: Farmers tying a black cloth on their turbans with an effigy to mark Black Day protest against the Union government and Haryana government during their ongoing 'Delhi Chalo' march, at Shambhu Border in Patiala on Friday, February 23, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

A few protesters threw stones at police personnel when farmers from Kheri Chopta village were stopped from going to Khanauri. A clash between police personnel and farmers ensued, forcing Haryana security personnel to fire tear gas shells.

Farmers won't cremate dead protester till case booked.​

Another protesting farmer dies, toll rises to 4​

Some police personnel and farmers were injured in the clash, officials said, adding some farmers have been detained.
Bharatiya Kisan Union's (BKU) Hisar unit president Golu Data alleged that besides using tear gas, police also resorted to lathi-charge and turned on a water cannon against the farmers.

He criticised the state government for the police action.Farmers are now holding a sit-in to protest against the police action, Data said. A heavy police force has been deployed to maintain law and order in the area.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha are spearheading the 'Delhi Chalo' march to press the government to accept their demands, including a legal guarantee of MSP for crops and a farm loan waiver.
Thousands of farmers remain camped at Khanauri and Shambhu with their tractor-trolleys and trucks agitating for their demands.

Their demands also include implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations, pension for farmers and farm labourers, no hike in electricity tariff, withdrawal of police cases and 'justice' for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence, reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, and compensation to the families of the farmers who died during a previous agitation in 2020-21.

 

[dalvinder45]

'Farmers have been sent notices in which the government is threatening that if you will join the movement, then we will impound your whole ancestral properties.'
'We will seal your bank accounts. We will revoke the passports of your young kids.'

IMAGE: Farmers, who are marching towards New Delhi to press for better crop prices promised to them in 2021, run for cover amidst tear gas fired by the police to disperse them at the Shambhu barrier, a border crossing between Punjab and Haryana, February 21, 2024. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

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One of the leaders at the forefront of the farmers' Delhi Chalo march is Abhimanyu Kohar.

Kohar, a BTech graduate, comes from a well-off family in Haryana's Sonepat and floated the Bharatiya Kisan Naujawan Union in 2021 soon after the Modi government repealed the three farm laws.
Earlier, Kohar -- whose Facebook X accounts have been withheld ever since the farm agitation began on February 13, 2024 -- was a regular guest on news television channels as the spokesperson of the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha.
"The government wants to create a narrative that this issue is only being raised by the farmers of Punjab and Haryana by not allowing farmers from other states to reach Delhi," Abhimanyu Kohar tells

Farmers were marching peacefully towards Delhi. But the governments of India and Haryana are firing injector mortars and tear gas shells, pellets and other fatal weapons on peacefully agitating farmers leading to serious injuries.

Nevertheless, we are certain that we will continue our march towards Delhi in a peaceful and non-violent manner.

Our demands are just and we will accept nothing short of these demands. Our main demands is a legal MSP (Minimum Support Price) guarantee, MSP according to the Swaminathan Commission recommendation of C2 plus 50% formula and complete loan waiver for the farmers and the labourers.
The government is saying that we will form a high power committee to look into these issues under the leadership of Agriculture Minister (Arjun Munda) which will give its report in a time bound manner.

Our argument is that in the last 77 years so many committees have been formed. but their reports have not been implemented. So from the last 77 years we have been amenable to these committees but the (recommendations of these) committees have not yielded any result. Now we don't want any committee, we want law.
We postponed our agitation last year on the promise of the Union government, which gave us a letter stating that they will form a committee for the MSP which will ensure MSP for each and every farmer of India.
But now from 2021 to 2024, it's already two-and-a-half years (have passed) but the (Union) government has not done anything.
These are not our demands. These are the commitments, promises which Mr Narendra Modi's government made to farmers at different times. Whether it's MSP guarantee law in 2011-2012 when he was the chief minister of Gujarat.

As the chairman of the Consumer Affairs Committee he recommended that there must be an MSP guarantee law. Before the 2014 (general) election he promised that if he comes tp power he will implement Sthe waminathan Commission report and the C2 plus 50 per cent formula.

What we are saying is that these are not our demands. These are the promises which Mr Narendra Modi's government made a number of times. We want his promises to be fulfilled.

There is absolute corporate pressure on the Narendra Modi government. We must understand very clearly that we are not saying that the government has to procure all food grains at MSP. We are only saying that whoever -- whether it's a private trader or someone else -- purchases or procures farmers' food grains and crops they must be procured or purchased at or above MSP.

If he is purchasing or procuring food grains or the crops below MSP then there must be legal proceedings against that private trader. That's what we are demanding.

IMAGE: Farmers run for cover amidst tear gas fired by the police to disperse them at the Shambhu barrier, February 21, 2024. Photograph: Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters
In our many meetings we asked Piyush Goyalji (the Union minister of commerce and food) that if you have promised a salary of Rs 2 lakh per month to your secretaries for whatever job they are doing and if at the end of month there are market fluctuations then can you tell them we can't give you Rs 2 lakh salary and this month we will pay you salary of only Rs 50,000? Will they accept this? The secretaries said we will not accept it. Our argument remains the same. Whatever MSP is promised by the government, farmers must get at least that MSP.
The government and the famers are not on the same page about what factors to consider while calculating the C2 plus 50 per cent formula. But the calculation part can come at a later stage.

We are saying that whatever MSP you are declaring as per the CACP (Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices) formula you must ensure that farmers must get at least this much (a fixed minimum price for their produce).

But the government is not ready to give even that much.

What we are requesting right now is whatever (MSP) you are declaring every year, farmers must get at least that much. But they are not ready to do this. Our talks are stuck at this point.

IMAGE: Farmers run for cover to escape the tear gas fired by the police to disperse them at the Shambhu barrier, February 21, 2024. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters
Measures and methods being adopted by the Haryana government to prevent farmers from reaching Delhi

More than 3,000 farmers at different times have been detained in Haryana. Other than the Haryana police, more than 50,000 central police forces like the CRPF, ITBP and RAF are deployed in Haryana, number of villages have been completely sealed.

The government is registering fake cases against our leaders. The government has registered two fake cases under IPC 307 against me. A number of farmers are arrested on the fake charges.

The government is adopting a dictatorial way to crush farmers' agitation in Haryana. There is a situation of chaos in Haryana. Farmers trying to move towards the (Delhi) border are being apprehended by the police.

Farmers have been sent notices in which the government is threatening that if you will join the movement, then we will impound your whole ancestral properties. We will seal your bank accounts. We will revoke the passports of your young kids.

Our social media accounts have been suspended or withheld so that our voices don't reach our country's people. They want to suffocate, stifle our voices by taking away our right to freedom of speech.

These are some of the dictatorial ways in which the government of Haryana and the Union government are threatening farmers.

More than 10,000 farmers from Haryana are present at the Jind-Patiala border. More than 5,000 farmers are there on the Shambu border. And more than 50,000 farmers from Punjab are ready to join the others on both borders.
farmers from other stats also came to participate in strength in addition to Haryana, UP and Rajasthan. On the twelfth night (February 12) hundreds of farmers who were coming to Delhi from Karnataka were arrested at the Bhopal railway station. Their train was stopped mid-way, they were made to alight from the train and arrested. They were harassed at the Bhopal railway station and at Bhopal police station.

More than 74 farmers were detained from Odisha when they were coming to Delhi. This government is suppressing our voices throughout India. In Uttar Pradesh, scores of our workers and leaders were detained.

The government wants to create a narrative that this issue is only being raised by the farmers of Punjab and Haryana by not allowing farmers from other states to reach Delhi.

Mass upsurge of farmers from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

The governments of certain states are using high-handed tactics to prevent farmers from these states as well as those from the western, eastern and southern India from reaching Delhi. Farmers from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have started their journeys when we had called for the Delhi Chalo agitation from February 13 but the governments from many states (that are ruled by the BJP) are playing dirty tactics and preventing them from being seen with farmers from Punjab and Haryana.
This is a pan-India farmers' agitation. The government wants to create a fake narrative that this is not an all-India farmers' agitation.

 

[dalvinder45]

Farmer leaders​

Two Farmer leaders call for nationwide protest and 'rail roko' in support of demands. They have given 'rail roko' call for March 10, to reach Delhi on March 6. Agitation intensifies at border points while farmers from other states join Delhi protest. Drones, BJP's divisive politics criticized. Agitation continues despite elections and fight. More than 400 farmer outfits to take part in 'Kisan Mahapanchayat' in Delhi on March 14: SKM. The two leaders ( Dallewal and co) have defied SKM's call to unite and have decided to fight independently. This will certainly affect the image of the SKM. It is said that it is the central Govt and State Govt who have encouraged these two leaders in order to break the SKM. They however have failed so far as SKM remains united as ever except the two leader who had created problems for farmer agitation by going to Red Fort in 2020.