Delhi Chalo - Farmer Killed In Pushback

The Delhi Chalo march by the agitating farmers on the Punjab and Haryana border took a tragic turn with the death of one farmer allegedly resulting from the Haryana Police action at Khanauri border on Wednesday. The deceased has been identified as 23-year-old Shubhkaran Singh of Ballo village in Bathinda. Twenty five others are reportedly injured.

The farmer organisations trying to go to Delhi from the Punjab, through Shambhu and Khanauri borders have reportedly put the march on hold till Friday. After that they will decide the future course of action. This comes amid government appeal to the farmers to continue talks and look for a solution to the standoff through conversation.

The young farmer reportedly succumbed to a head injury at the Rajindra Hospital in Patiala where he was taken with the two others injured. Throughout the day the farmers tried to break through the barricaded Haryana border and faced Police action from the other side.

Shubhkaran’s death has sparked strong reaction from various quarters, even as the farmers' movement continues to snowball into a major challenge for the Central government. It will also have ramifications at the state level politics of Punjab and Haryana.

Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) the umbrella organisation of farmer bodies across the country while condoling the death of the young farmer protesting against the 'anti farmer policies' of the Central government said it shared the 'martyred farmer's family’s grief.

"SKM appeals to organisations of all sections of the people across the country including farmers and workers to pay tribute to the young farmer martyr. The SKM pledges not to allow the supreme sacrifice to go in vain and take decisive action to achieve the just and fair demands of the farmers through massive and determined struggles," it stated.

The SKM has alleged that Shubhkaran was fired upon at the rear of the head which is against the restrictions included in the Police manual. It has sought a judicial probe in the matter.

The platform of Central Trade Unions (CTUs) condemned the “unprecedented and unprovoked force and oppression on the farmers at Khanauri and Shambhu borders by the Haryana Police and central forces”. The CTUs stated, while referring to the young life lost, that “there have been use of cane charge, plastic bullets and tear gas shells on the farmers whose fault is that they wanted to reach the capital city of the country to demand from the government to fulfil the promises given to farmers at the time of taking back three farm laws based on which they lifted protest from Delhi borders.”

The CTUs added, "The ruling regime at the centre and their party ruling in the states are conspiring to use all means to crush any opposition and are inclined to use all kinds of unlawful actions. We call upon the unions of all sectors organised and unorganised to observe February 23 as Black Day and organise nationwide protests, wear black badges, have lunch hour protests, protest dharnas, processions, torchlight and candle light protests in whatever form they can express their anguish on the ruthless approach of central government towards workers and farmers of the country.

“In the meanwhile we reiterate to continue the workers-farmers unity developed in course of time and would go in solidarity action with any future call by the SKM to fight back this anti-worker, anti-farmer, and anti-national government which is promoting corporate communal nexus.”

Expressing deep shock over Shubhkaran’s death, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has announced that exemplary punishment be given to the “officers responsible for the death of the youth”. Stating that he had seen the video of the “gruesome murder” of the young farmer who was there to exercise his democratic right, Mann said that a FIR will be registered against the people responsible for death after investigation. He has promised social and economic support to the family of the deceased.

Mann has said that this death is a result of the “high handedness of the union and Haryana government”. He claimed that he tried his best to ensure that the farmers and youth do not face the bullets, water cannons, and. Mann said that he “acted as a bridge to ensure that the farmers and union government reached some consensus but unfortunately it never happened”.

Mann said that he was a part of two out of the four meetings held between the farmers and the Union Government. However, he said the demands of the farmers were to be accepted by the Union Government, which “unfortunately failed to fulfil its duty”. He added that the farmers were unlawfully stopped by Haryana using barbed wires.

He said the Centre should have allotted some place to the farmers to hold their protest in the National Capital but instead of that the Haryana government stopped them and used force. This action, Mann said, was a “grave insult of the food growers of the state who have made the country self-reliant in food production”.

The Punjab CM hit out at the Centre saying it was “only concerned about toppling the democratically elected governments in opposition ruled states and the welfare of the common man is not on its agenda”. Stating that this protest can give a major setback to the economy of the state hence he had been trying for an amicable solution.

Mann has also stated that there is no law and order problem in the state as farmers are protesting peacefully. He has accused Haryana of creating law and order problems by “using force on the peaceful farmers which is unjustified and unwarranted”.

He said that to provide immediate health services to the agitating farmers the Punjab government has deployed ambulances and vehicles of Sadak Suraksha Force at the site. Since most farmers now reported eye problems due to tear gas, eye specialists among his ministers and MLAs have been deployed at the hospitals.

Punjab’s Health minister Dr. Balbir will oversee all such cases at Patiala. His Cabinet colleague Dr. Baljit Kaur will be stationed at Patran and Khanori while MLA Dr. Charanjit Singh Channi will be stationed at Rajpura hospital.

On the 'canards' of imposition of President rule in the state, Mann said that he can “kick this chair for the sake of the people of state a 100 times”. This late night statement came from Mann amidst Opposition’s attacks on him with regards to the farmers' protest.

State Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring in a letter to Mann underscored the necessity for immediate action and exertion of pressure by the Punjab government to facilitate the filing of FIRs against Haryana home minister Anil Vij along with the Superintendent of Police at Ambala.

Warring deemed the actions of the Haryana Police against Punjab farmers as “unlawful and in violation of constitutional principles”. He cited instances of excessive force including the deployment of rubber bullets and tear gas against demonstrators who were lawfully and peacefully assembled within Punjab's jurisdiction.

“If no action is taken by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in the interests of our state and it’s farmers, and FIRs are not registered against those responsible for the attacks on our farmers, Punjab Congress and the people of Punjab will hold the state government equally responsible for any further injuries or deaths,” he warned.

Offering condolences on Shubhkaran's death, senior Congress leader Partap Bajwa said, “Haryana police has been firing tear gas shells and rubber bullets since February 13. However, the Punjab CM failed miserably to lodge an FIR against the Haryana Police and Anil Vij. I as Leader of the Opposition have repeatedly exhorted the Punjab Government to lodge FIR and take legal action.

“Instead of doing the same, he remained busy in intermediate meetings between the farmers' unions and the central government. It establishes that CM Mann has developed proximity with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and now has become the BJP's puppet.”

On the other hand Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) president Sukhbir Singh Badal came out saying in a tweet, "Punjab CM @BhagwantMann, for God’s sake stop shedding crocodile tears after getting Punjab youth killed by collaborating with Haryana and facilitating their police to attack our farmers on Punjab soil.

“All this time, You were running with the hare and hunting with the hound. You cheated the farmers and betrayed their faith. Farmers and political parties had been crying themselves hoarse, telling you to stop Haryana police from tear gassing farmers with drones in Punjab territory.

“You needed to book the Haryana police when they were invading farmers in your state. Why didn’t you? Instead, you and your police kept obeying Haryana govt to stop your farmers from using their own machinery and vehicles. Now, don’t pretend to shut the door after the horse has bolted. You are morally and legally responsible for the tragedy of Shubhkaran’s death.”

Meanwhile, the SKM, carried out protests outside the BJP offices at various places demanding lifting of restrictions imposed on the movement of people on national and state highways passing through Haryana, restoration of internet services and release of persons arrested during the past one week. They also burnt effigies of the BJP government.

SKM leader from Haryana Inderjit Singh accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar governments for their “desperate attempts to demonise the entire farmers community in the people's perception”, said the tactics being adopted by the centre was aimed at creating a division among the organisations fighting for the long pending issues including legal guarantee of procurement of all crops on minimum support price (MSP), withdrawal of Electricity Amendment Bill, dismissal of Union Minister of state for home Ajay Mishra Teni for his role in Lakhimpur Kheri massacre and waiver of farm debts.

A meeting of SKM's national coordination committee and general body is scheduled to be held in Chandigarh on February 22 to chalk out the future course of action.