As farmer protests against the three new farm laws on the Delhi border enter Day 22, the clash between protesting farmers and the government appears to be heading for a stalemate similar to that of Shaheen Bagh. The three weeks of peasant unrest have caused the ruling BJP to plan public gatherings across the country. Taking a sheet from its CAA playbook, the party is having its ministers and high-level leaders hold meetings with ‘pro-farm law’ farmer groups to point out that the demand for repeal of the laws does not reflect sentiment. national farmers.
Meanwhile, more than 20 people have died in the last three weeks of the uproar, protesters say. The deceased, many of whom are from Punjab, died of natural causes apparently compounded by severe weather or in road accidents, protesters say. Farmers’ organizations in Singhu and Tikri say they are now preparing lists of these people to help their families and will press for compensation. Meanwhile, relatives of farmers who died by suicide in Punjab over the years joined the ongoing protest at Delhi’s Tikri border on Wednesday, with some widows and mothers of the deceased farmers saying they have the intention to remain on site for the duration of the protest. .
In other news, a Sikh priest from a gurdwara in the Karnal district of Haryana, identified as Sant Baba Ram Singh (65), allegedly shot himself in Kundli, near the Singhu border, where farmers have been protesting. during the last 20 days, on Wednesday.
In an alleged suicide note, Singh, also known as Nanaksar Singhra Wale, said he was hurt by the plight of the farmers.
While Singh is reported to have shot himself with his licensed revolver, Kundli Police Station SHO Ravi Kumar said they had yet to find out the weapon used. “His associates have given a statement to the police that he died by suicide. Our investigation is ongoing, ”he said.
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