Farmers protest highlight: Delhi's Singhu, Tikri borders to reopen partially

We are preparing to open one lane; I have discussed this with the concerned DSP and SHO. Our aim is to not let the traffic congestion hamper the general public. First, we will open one lane, then further steps will be informed to the public: Arpit Jain, Jhajjar SP

Authorities on Saturday initiated the process to partially reopen Singhu and Tikri – Delhi's borders with Haryana – almost two weeks after they were sealed in view of farmers' 'Delhi Chalo' march, officials said.

As per a Delhi Police officer, one lane each of the service lanes at the Singhu and Tikri borders are being opened to allow the movement of vehicles.

We should try that peace should be maintained in the country. We have always conversed and further also we will do so to find a solution. We welcome all the suggestions too. I hope we will discuss the issue further too. The Government of India is dedicated to the development of the agriculture sector: Arjun Munda, Union agriculture minister

The Kisan Mazdoor Morcha and Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (non-political) are leading the ongoing agitation, with support of around 200 farm bodies.

However, the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha, which led the November 2020-2021 protests against the central agricultural laws, which were subsequently repealed, is not participating. It is organising its own programmes demanding MSP.

The deadlock is because the farmers are refusing to budge from their primary demand, i.e. a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP) on 23 crops. The Centre, on the other hand, has proposed setting up a panel, with members from both sides; the proposal, however, was rejected by farmer leaders.

According to Times of India, Gurjant Singh, a 33-year-old cultivator, died on Saturday morning when a truck allegedly hit his tractor when he, along with 12 others, was on his way to join agitators camped at the Shambhu border with Haryana.

The deceased was a member of BKU Ekta Sidhupur.

The government, represented by three Union ministers, has held four rounds of talks with the protesting peasants, without, however, a resolution being found. These talks were held in Chandigarh on February 8, 12, 15, and 18.

Farmer leaders are yet to respond to the Centre's proposal of fresh negotiations.

On Friday, a clash broke out between farmers and police in Haryana's Hisar, leading to injuries on both sides. The clash broke out after the farmers were prevented by the police from marching to Khanauri border, where Punjab cultivators are camped.

Pritpal Singh, an injured farmer admitted in PGI Rohtak, has been discharged, and taken by his family to PGIMER in Chandigarh.

Our party is a party of farmers, we stand with their demand. When it comes to the respect and rights of our farmer brothers, we stood with them earlier as well and will continue to do so: Akhilesh Yadav, Samajwadi Party chief

In a letter to his Haryana counterpart Sanjeev Kaushal, Punjab chief secretary Anurag Verma requests the ‘handover’ of Pritpal Singh, a farmer admitted in PGI Rohtak, to Punjab authorities.

“This is to ensure that his treatment may be carried out in Punjab free of cost by the Punjab government,” the letter states.

Farmers protest LIVE Updates: The farmers' protest matter reached the Supreme Court on Friday, with a PIL (public interest litigation) being filed there alleging ‘violation of the rights’ of the ‘peacefully protesting farmers’ by the central government and some states. The PIL has been moved by social activist Agnostos Theos, who describes himself as the Managing Director of the Sikh Chamber of Commerce. “The petitioner is seeking a writ of mandamus in the interest of the farmers who are facing unfair treatment in their peaceful protests,” the PIL read. Dig Deeper

When questioned about the possibility of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) joining the ongoing protest at two points along the Punjab-Haryana border, Rajewal stated that the SKM is conducting its agitation independently, as reported by news agency PTI.

Several leaders affiliated with the SKM from Punjab, Haryana, and other states participated in the meeting.

Farmers protest LIVE Updates: Lawyers at Punjab and Haryana high court abstained from the work on Friday in protest against the death of a farmer at Khanauri border on Thursday. However, law officers of the Haryana government did not participate in the strike as directed by the Haryana advocate general BR Mahajan. In the recent past, this was the first such instance where a section of lawyers openly went against the diktat of bar body. Read More

Farmers protest LIVE Updates: Farmer leader addressed a press conference at Shambhu border. He spoke on clashes with security forces at Delhi borders. The leader said that the government has failed in its attempts to safeguard the interests of farmers.

Farmers protest LIVE Updates: "People living in the forests protect the environment. From Bihar to Andhra Pradesh, which is a forest area, Adivasis worship the 'Jungle'. No army and farmers are standing face to face. We have people in the army also who comes from the farming background. There should be a solution through dialogue. Continuous talks are going on with the Centre," he said.

Farmers protest LIVE Updates: Haryana Police on Friday reversed its decision to invoke the National Security Act (NSA) against protesting farmer leaders on the Shambhu and Khanauri borders.
In a statement, Ambala IGP Sibash Kabiraj said, “This is to clarify to all concerned that the matter of invoking provisions of the National Security Act on few farm union leaders of Ambala district has been reconsidered and it has been decided that the same will not be invoked.”

Farmers protest LIVE Updates: On Friday too, farmers had taken part in a candlelight vigil in tribute to a farmer who was allegedly killed in Police action at the Khanauri border during their 'Delhi Chalo' march, at the Punjab-Haryana Shambhu border, in Patiala district. See Pictures

Farmers protest LIVE Updates: Following the tragic demise of a young individual in the continuing farmers' protest, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher has declared that they will withhold the cremation until justice is served. Pandher emphasized the necessity of filing a First Information Report (FIR) against the Haryana Police.

“Case under Section 302 IPC should be registered against those who are responsible for the death (of a farmer),” he said.

Farmers protest LIVE Updates: Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher on Saturday said that the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha and SKM (non-political) will hold a candle march on both Shambhu and Khanauri borders on Saturday evening, in memory of martyrs.

"This is the 12th day of the morchas at Shambhu and Khanauri. Yesterday, Kisan Mazdoor Morcha and SKM (non-political) decided that a candle march will be held on both borders this evening, in memory of martyrs," he said.

Trade unions, including All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Central Trade Union (CTU) Punjab, Centre of Indian Trade Union (CITU) and Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) jointly demonstrated outside the mini secretariat in Ludhiana and burnt effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, home minister Amit Shah, Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Haryana home minister Anil Vij.

Black Day was observed against the death of a young farmer Shubh Karan Singh in clashes between security personnel and protesting farmers at Khanauri.

Farmers protest LIVE Updates: The death of a farmer in clashes with security forces galvanised the protest, with Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), which had till then stayed away, joining the stir.

Farmers protest LIVE Updates: Farmers burned effigies of PM Modi and other ministers in his government on Friday. Black flags were hoisted on tractors and trolleys lined up at the protest sites along the borders of Delhi. Several protesters also tied black cloth over their turbans.

Farmers protest LIVE Updates: Apart from a legal guarantee of MSP for crops and a farm loan waiver, the protesting farmers are 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.

They are also seeking reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, and compensation to the families of the farmers who died during a previous agitation in 2020-21.