Farmers' Protest: Farmer Leader Calls For Tractor March Tomorrow; Meeting With Centre On Sunday

The Haryana Police used tear gas to scatter protesting farmers as they approached the barricades at the Shambhu border near Ambala on Friday.

The leaders of the farmers leading the 'Delhi Chalo' movement stated that security forces in Haryana employed force on the protesters by launching tear gas shells and shooting rubber bullets, resulting in numerous injuries.

SKM (Non-Political) leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal spoke to the media on the demise of an elderly farmer due to cardiac arrest during the protests at Shambhu border.

He said, "The martyrs of our movement are not just from an organisation or family, when one sacrifices his life for the country, he belongs to everyone. Today, we paid his tributes. I request that all the farmers attend the last rites ceremony, which will be held tomorrow."

BKU (Charuni) leader Gurnam Singh Charuni told PTI, "Farmers of Haryana have always played an active role in agitations. Today we gave a call for closing toll (booths) in Haryana for three hours and it was heeded. We appeal to all the farmers to take out a tractor march in their nearest town tomorrow. No roads will be blocked and discipline will be maintained."

Farmers stage protest at Kurukshetra highway in Haryana. Protesting farmers kept a toll plaza free for three hours today to show support for the ongoing protest by several farmers' organisations.

PM Modi is addressing a public gathering in Rewari, Haryana today and he said that the Indian government under his leadership is working on schemes to provide help to the farmers amid the protests going on in the northern part of the country by the farmers.

He further claimed that the current government gave the farmers the "guarantee" to seek loans from banks, which was not given to them by previous government. "We gave Modi guarantee to farmers... Banks did not give them loans, but we gave guarantee to the farmers," said PM Modi.

It has been reported that a 63-year-old farmer, Gian Singh, who was protesting at the Shambhu border near Ambala, died of a heart attack today.

As per PTI, Singh complained of chest pain in the morning and was taken to the Civil Hospital in Punjab's Rajpura. From there, he was rushed to Rajindra Hospital in Patiala, where doctors declared him brought dead, they said.

On day four of the 'Delhi Chalo' protest, heavy security deployment continues at Singhu border. Since the onset of the protest march called by the farmer unions, the security measures have been beefed up at Punjab-Haryana borders in a bid to prevent the agitating farmers from entering Delhi.

In view of the farmers' Gramin Bharat Bandh, commuters faced heavy traffic snarls at Ghazipur border. Yesterday, several traffic advisories were issued for the commuters to avoid inconvenience.

Reiterating the farmers' demands except a law for MSP, Kirti Kisan Union leader Karmjeet Singh said, “Our demands include the repeal of four labour codes, to double the days under MNREGA to 200, and to cancel the hit-and-run law. The whole country and Punjab is one and it's supporting the ‘Bharat Bandh’.”

Agitating farmers were seen preparing tea at the Shambhu border on Friday morning.

After holding meeting with three central ministers on Thursday, SKM Convenor Jagjit Singh Dallewal said, "We had a detailed discussion with the three Union ministers (Piyush Goyal, Arjun Munda and Nityanand Rai). After the discussion, the government said that the demands require a detailed discussion. They have decided Sunday for the next (fourth) round of meeting," says Samyukt Kisan Morcha (non-political) convenor Jagjit Singh Dallewal after third round of talks between Centre and farmer unions conclude in Chandigarh.

In view of the nationwide Gramin Bharat Bandh today, the bus services remain shut in Punjab's Moga.

Commenting on the inconvenience, a local commuter said, “Trade unions announced the strike for February 16 earlier. The government should have made the arrangements because people are worried. They (trade unions) have justified demands and the government should fulfill them.”

Right ahead of the Gramin Bharat Bandh called by the SKM and other farmer unions today, the Gautam Buddh Nagar Police on Thursday said restrictions under CrPC Section 144. As per reports, a ban on unauthorised public assemblies would be enforced across the district.

Police have also issued traffic advisory for the convenience of the commuters.

"People going to Delhi please use Metro as much as possible to avoid traffic inconvenience. Arrival of all types of goods vehicles will be restricted on the route from Yamuna Expressway to Delhi via Noida-Greater Noida Expressway and from Sirsa to Surajpur via Pari Chowk. To avoid traffic inconvenience, drivers can use alternative routes to reach their destination", said the officials.

The third day of the farmers' 'Delhi Chalo' protest ended with the much-awaited third round of talks between farmers' organisations and the Centre on Thursday. However, the meeting ended with no major breakthrough and the agitating farmers' unions are still pressing for their demand for the enactment of a law for Minimum Support Price (MSP) for all crops, while the government continues to argue that such a move is not possible at present. A next round of talk has been scheduled to take place on Sunday, February 18.

The Centre reportedly pledged compensation of 10 lakh rupees each to the 13 individuals injured in Lakhimpur Kheri within 7 days of the protest's conclusion.

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The meeting was attended by three union ministers - Arjun Munda, Piyush Goyal and Nityanand Rai

Besides the much-awaited Centre-farmers meeting, the third day of the 'Delhi Chalo' protest also witnessed a 'Rail Roko' being staged by the farmers of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ugrahan) and BKU Dakaunda (Dhaner faction) in Punjab.