'Delhi chalo' Farmer's Protest on hold till February 29; Farmers Detained After Clash with Haryana Police

Farmers have opted to suspend their “Delhi Chalo” protest march until February 29, following a clash with law enforcement during a farm gathering in Haryana’s Hisar. The incident at Kheri Chopta, which is a recurring episode amid the ongoing protests over MSP for agricultural products, was triggered by the detention of 19 individuals leading the tractor march. Despite clashes resulting in injuries to 15 police officers and an unspecified number of protesters, the farmers intend to resume their march after this temporary suspension.

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM), the primary orchestrators of the protest at the Shambu and Khanuari borders, have declared that a decision regarding the next steps will be made on February 29. Sarwan Singh Pandher, a prominent leader among the farmers, has outlined the schedule for the upcoming days, which includes a candle march on February 24, agricultural issue seminars on February 25, burning effigies of the World Trade Organization and the Central government on February 26, and numerous meetings of SKM (Non-Political) and KMM in the subsequent days.

The choice to extend the pause in the march follows clashes at the Khanauri border, resulting in the death of a protester and injuries to around 12 police personnel. The protest, initiated on February 13, has witnessed four rounds of talks between farm leaders and the central government in the presence of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. However, these discussions have not succeeded in resolving the impasse between the government and the protesting farmers.

The demands of the Punjab farmers encompass the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations, pensions for farmers and farm laborers, a moratorium on electricity tariff increases, withdrawal of police cases, “justice” for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence, reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, and compensation for the families of farmers who lost their lives during a previous protest in 2020-21.

Highlights Of Farmers’ Protest

• Initiation of ‘Delhi Chalo’ March:
  • The ‘Delhi Chalo’ march commenced in February, with farmers from Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh advocating for the government’s legal assurance of the Minimum Selling Price (MSP) for agricultural produce.
• Temporary Halt and Resumption:
  • Farmers temporarily suspended the protests on February 19 after engaging in the fourth round of talks with Union Ministers. However, the march resumed on February 21, resulting in confrontations between protestors and law enforcement.
• Clashes and Tragic Incident:
  • Violent clashes occurred at the Khanauri border in Haryana, leading to the tragic death of a 22-year-old farmer. The unrest prompted another pause in the march on February 21, lasting for two days.
• Demand for Justice:
  • The Samyukta Kisan Morcha is advocating for a murder case against the police officers deemed responsible for the farmer’s death. Additionally, a tractor march has been announced for February 26 as part of the ongoing protests.
• Anticipated Next Steps:
  • Today marks a crucial juncture as farmer leaders are expected to decide on the subsequent course of action in the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march, following the two-day pause in the protest.
• Observance of ‘Black Friday’:
  • Farmers, led by the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), are observing a ‘Black Friday’ to protest the death of a farmer at Khanauri Border in Sangrur district, Punjab. This demonstration is part of the broader ongoing protests.