Farmer leaders have affirmed their commitment to the "Delhi Chalo" agitation until their demands are addressed, stating that they will unveil their next plan of action on March 3 following a prayer session for a farmer who lost his life during clashes with Haryana security personnel in Khanauri.
They have declared their intention to fortify the existing farmer gatherings at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders while also organizing a sit-in protest in Dabwali to bolster support for their cause.
During a press briefing at the Shambhu border, farmer leaders Manjeet Singh Rai and Jaswinder Singh Longowal disclosed that the forthcoming announcement will coincide with the conclusion of prayers at Shubhkaran Singh's hometown of Balloh in Bathinda district.
Shubhkaran Singh was killed and around 12 police personnel were injured in clashes at the Khanauri border point on the Punjab-Haryana border on February 21. Replying to a question on the farmers’ ‘Delhi Chalo’ call, Longowal said it still stands. He also hit out at the Centre and the Haryana government for using oppressive methods against farmers holding a peaceful protest. It is not just the question of using teargas or mild lathi-charge we have seen them use toxic gases and everyone knows how we lost Shubhkaran, Longowal said.
In a democracy, is it justified that bullets are fired. Our agitation will continue. It will head to victory. At the same time, one thing is clear, we have to save our children from bullets, the farmer leader said. Another farmer leader, Sarwan Singh Pandher, said the government was not paying attention to farmers’ demands as the ruling party’s sole focus was on winning the Lok Sabha elections ahead.
Pandher reiterated the demand for the government to provide a legal assurance of Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops and fulfill other requirements put forward by the protesting farmers. Criticizing the government's priorities, he emphasized their focus on electoral gains rather than addressing the concerns of farmers. Pandher asserted that the farmers' agitation would persist until their demands were met.
The 'Delhi Chalo' march, led by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM), aims to exert pressure on the government to acknowledge and fulfill the farmers' demands.