Chandigarh, January 17, 2025 (Punjab Khabarnama Bureau): A group of 101 farmers will once again attempt a march to the national capital from Punjab’s Shambhu border point with neighbouring Haryana on January 21 — their fourth such bid since December 6.
The earlier three attempts to breach the security cordon on the Haryana side of the interstate border had met with resistance from the police and paramilitary personnel.
The announcement has come as the protesting farmers led by fasting farm leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal are in talks to forge a united front with the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of farmer unions that protested on the Delhi borders in 2020-21 against the Centre’s now-scrapped farm laws.
On Tuesday, a group of 111 farmers had also started an indefinite fast in support of Dallewal on the Haryana side of the Khanauri border under tight security as the Haryana administration clamped movement restrictions around their protest site.
Farmers under the SKM (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) are protesting on the Shambhu and Khanauri border points of Punjab since February 13 last year, when their march to Delhi was halted by security personnel.
In the three attempts to proceed towards Delhi on December 6, 8 and 14, over 50 farmers were injured. One farmer, who was not part of the marching farmers , had taken poison during the third attempt on December 14.
Giving information about their foot march on January 21, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher slammed the Centre for not accepting their demands, including a law assuring minimum support prices for crops.
“Both forums — SKM (Non-Political) and KMM — today decided that the jatha of 101 farmers will resume their march to Delhi on January 21 from the Shambhu border,” said Pandher.
“We feel that the government is not ready for talks due to which we decided to intensify the agitation,” he said.
Meanwhile, the protesting farmers expressed concern over Dallewal’s deteriorating health as the leader’s fast entered its 52nd day today. They said he is facing the risk of “multiple organ failure” because of his prolonged fasting.
Farm leader Abhimanyu Kohar said Dallewal’s body weight has fallen over 20 kg since he began hunger strike.
At the time of starting his fast on November 26, his body wight was 86.9 kg, which has reduced to 65.4 kg, he said.
“We are sad at the insensitive attitude of the government for submitting in the Supreme Court that Dallewal’s health is improving. If fasting for over 50 days could improve the health of a cancer patient, then we should shut the hospitals and keep people on indefinite fast,” he added.
Summary: Farmers announce a fresh march to Delhi on January 21, renewing their demands and intensifying their ongoing protests.