By PTI
👨🌾 Farmer Leaders Speak Out
Sarwan Singh Pandher, a prominent farmer leader, announced a complete ‘Punjab bandh’ on December 30, citing the Centre’s inaction on farmer demands.
- The call for the bandh was made by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha.
- Emergency services will remain operational during the bandh.
🔊 Appeal to Citizens
Pandher urged traders, businessmen, and transporters to support the bandh, saying, “Like the ‘Rail Roko’ protest was a success, the Punjab bandh should also be made successful.”
🚂 ‘Rail Roko’ Protest Highlights
- Farmers blocked rail tracks at 52 locations across Punjab.
- Impact on train services:
- 12 trains cancelled
- 2 short-terminated, 2 short-originated
- 34 trains delayed
🍴 Fast-Unto-Death by Jagjit Singh Dallewal
- Dallewal’s fast has reached Day 23.
- Farmer leader Abhmanyu Kohar remarked, “We respect the Supreme Court’s concerns for Dallewal’s health, but the root causes need addressing.”
- Demands for resolution include:
- Legal guarantee for MSP
- Debt waivers
- Pension for farmers and laborers
- Compensation for families of farmers who lost their lives.
⚖️ Supreme Court and Farmer Demands
- The Punjab government stated that farmers refused to interact with its high-powered committee.
- The Supreme Court emphasized its willingness to hear farmers’ suggestions directly or through representatives.
- Farmers demanded:
- Legal guarantee for MSP
- Reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013
- Withdrawal of police cases
- ₹25 lakh compensation for the family of Ranjodh Singh, a farmer who died after allegedly consuming poison.
🪧 Farmers’ Agitation Timeline
- Farmers have been protesting at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders since February 13.
- Attempts to march to Delhi:
- December 6, December 8, and December 14 were blocked by Haryana security forces.
📜 Key Farmer Demands
- Minimum Support Price (MSP): Legal guarantee.
- Debt Waivers for farmers.
- Pensions for farmers and farm laborers.
- Justice for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence.
- Compensation for families of farmers who died during previous agitations.
- No hike in electricity tariffs.
