On the eve of the next round of talks between protesting farmers’ unions and the Center on Monday, Haryana police fired tear gas projectiles on Sunday to prevent a group of farmers, mostly from Rajasthan, from moving into Delhi.
The incident occurred near the village of Sangwari in the Rewari district, on the NH-48, about 10 miles from Gurgaon, around 4 pm.
Confirming that tear gas projectiles were fired, Rajesh Kumar, Deputy Superintendent of Bawal Police, said: “The protesters said that those who had gone ahead did not have enough supplies. They asked permission to go to them and ride a langar, and they were allowed to do so. However, when they got there, the whole group tried to break through the barricades and move on. “
On Thursday, more than 300 farmers forced their way through the barricades on the Rajasthan-Haryana border and into Rewari. On Sunday, about 50 more farmers, most of Hanumangarh and Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan, followed them, after which the police fired tear gas projectiles.
Most of the protesters, however, remained at the border. “About 15-20 tractors entered Rewari today… they had a confrontation with the police. However, those of us who follow the instructions of the Samyukt Kisan Union are still at the border and will continue there. The next course of action will be decided based on the outcome of tomorrow’s meeting with the government. If they do not meet our demands, we will consider moving to Delhi after January 6, ”said Ramzan Chaudhary, head of Jai Kisan Andolan’s Nuh unit, which is part of the Samyukt Kisan Union, the umbrella body for farmers. Unions protesting on the Delhi borders.
Before their talks with the government, peasant leaders reiterated their demands on Monday. “Our demands remain the same. Agricultural laws must be repealed. The two amendments must be reversed and the government must listen. Our turmoil will continue, ”Jageer Singh Dalewal, BKU, told The Indian Express.
“On January 13, we have a Lohri program where we will burn copies of the three farm laws. On January 18, we invite everyone to hold the protests they deem appropriate. We also want to tell the government of Punjab that if they do not stop the lathicha charges and police action against people in the state, there will be protests against them. We are against both the BJP and the Congress as this is a farmers’ problem, ”Manjit Rai, BKU, Doaba, said at a press conference in Singhu.
In New Delhi, officials from the Ministry of Agriculture worked through the weekend to prepare for the next round of talks. One official said the government is “extremely concerned” and wants a “positive result.”
Farmers are demanding the repeal of the three recently enacted farm laws and the provision of a legal guarantee on the minimum purchase support price.
Meanwhile, three deaths were reported at the Singhu and Tikri borders, where farmers have been camping for more than a month. Jagbir, 66, from Jind district, and Jashnpreet, 18, from Bathinda, were killed in Tikri.
“Jashnpreet was taken to the civil hospital in a delirious state on Saturday night. After initial treatment, he was referred to PGIMS, Rohtak, where he died, ”said a Jhajjar police officer.
“In the other incident, the body was found inside a truck in the same place of the protest. It is suspected that he died of a heart attack, ”he said.
The protester who died in Singhu was identified as Shamsher, 44, a farmer from Sangrur. Shamsher died around 8 am, after complaining of chest pain. He was taken to Sonipat where he was pronounced dead. A Dalit farmer had been protesting with his 13-year-old son, ”said Jagmohan Singh from BKU-Dakaunda.
With ENS, New Delhi
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