Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher announced on Thursday that 101 farmers including Sanmyukta Kisan Morcha-Non Political, Kisan Mazdoor Morcha will resume their march to Delhi on January 21 from the Shambhu border with the same list of demands, including a legal guarantee for a minimum support price for crops from the central government.
The fresh move of protesting farmers came a day after a group of 111 farmers began a fast-unto-death on the Haryana side of the border near Khanauri in solidarity with fasting farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, whose fast-unto-death entered its 52nd day on Thursday.
Farmers, under the banner of the SKM (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, have been camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13 last year, after security forces did not allow them to march to Delhi to press for their various demands including a legal guarantee for MSP for their crops.
What Did Farmer Leader Pandher Say?
Kisan Mazdoor Morcha Sarwan Singh Pandher spoke to reporters on Thursday announcing the protest they have scheduled for January 21.
Speaking to 바카라, Pandher shared that they have been camping in Shambhu and Khanauri borders for the last 11 months and carrying protests but the central government is still not ready to listen to them. Thus the members of the farmer groups think it is time to intensify the protests and try to reach Delhi as planned.
He also mentioned that 111 farmers began fast unto death at Khanauri border in solidarity with their senior leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal whose health condition is deteriorating by the day due to his long-going fast. Notably, the farmers from Khanauri border will not join the march on January 21.
Pandher is concerned about the farmers and he told PTI, "We have seen and we also feel that the government is not ready for any talks. It was the decision of both the forums to intensify the agitation."
Earlier Attempts To Reach Delhi
Everytime the protesting farmers camping at Shambhu borderattempted to lead towards Delhi, they faced several objections from the local state police and some farmers even got severely injured in the process. The "jatha" (group) of 101 farmers earlier made three attempts to head towards Delhi on foot on December 6, December 8 and December 14, 2024.
The Haryana Police has enhanced security on its side of the border. It has already imposed Section 163 of Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, banning gatherings of five or more people.
What Are Farmers Demanding?
Besides a legal guarantee on Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops, the farmers are demanding a debt waiver, pension for farmers and farm labourers, no hike in the 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 are also part of their demands.
The protesting farmers have expressed concern over Dallewal's "deteriorating" health, saying he risks "multiple organ failure" because of the prolonged fasting.
Dallewal, who is the convener of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political), has been on an indefinite hunger strike at the Khanauri border point between Punjab and Haryana since November 26 last year.
On January 15, a group of 111 farmers began a fast-unto-death in solidarity with their leader Dallewal and vowed they wouldn't relent until their demands were met.
