leaders put the ‘Delhi Chalo’ March on hold for two days after a 21-year-old farmer — Shubhkaran Singh — died to a head injury at Khanauri on the Punjab-Haryana border. About 12 police personnel were also injured in the clashes at Khanauri.
Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher late on Wednesday told media that over the next two days they will hold discussions over the incident that took place in Khanauri. “We will clarify the entire situation later as to what our further movement will be…”
Meanwhile, the Opposition parties launched a scathing attack against the Centre over failing to consider the farmers’ demands.
YOGI ADITYANATH ORDERS FORMATION OF COMMITTEE
Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday ordered formation of committee to look into the issues of farmers from Gautam Buddh Nagar, who are protesting against the local Noida and Greater Noida authorities.
The order came ahead of the threat from the local farmers’ groups to take out a foot march to Delhi to press on their demands. Their attempt to go to the national capital on February 8 was a failed one.
These farmers are demanding hike in compensation, along with developed plots in lieu of their land acquired by the NTPC and local authorities in the past.
The committee, to be headed by the chairman of the UP Revenue Council, will look into the farmers’ issues and then submit its report to the government, said District Magistrate Manish Kumar Verma
HARYANA GOVT EXTENDS BAN ON MOBILE INTERNET
The Haryana government, once again, extended the suspension of mobile internet services and bulk SMS services in seven of its districts till February 23 in view of the ongoing farmers’ protest.
The internet services will be banned in Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad and Sisra districts.
According to the order, the suspension of mobile internet services, bulk SMS (excluding banking and mobile recharge) and all dongle services, etc. provided on mobile networks (with the exception of voice calls) in the jurisdiction of the seven districts has been been extended till February 23.
The order has been issued under Section 5 of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 and Rule 2 of Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules 2017.
UP FARMERS TRIES TO SET HIMSELF ABLAZE
Farmers across the western UP districts staged protests and carried out marches to voice their demands of MSP. Muzaffarnagar, Meerut, Ghaziabad and Greater Noida saw several protests.
n Muzaffarnagar, one of the farmers tried to kill himself by setting himself in fire. Fortunately, his fellow protesters doused the fire in time and rushed him to a local hospital.
Chief Magistrate Vikash Kashyap visited the hospital and said that the farmer, Brijpal, suffered minor burn injuries on his face and was given treatment immediately.
Meanwhile, BKU leader Naresh Tikait asked the protesting farmers to take part in a tractor march on February 26 and 27 to condemn the abomination on their counterparts in Punjab and Haryana.
FARMER DIES IN CLASHES AT KHANAURI BORDER
A 21-year-old farmer from Punjab, Shubhkaran Singh, died in the clashes that took place amid the farmers’ protest at Khanauri on the Punjab-Haryana Border on Wednesday.
About 12 police personnel were also injured in the clashes at Khanauri border.
The Haryana Police also fired tear gas shells and water cannons at the farmers to thwart their attempts to breach the security barricades at Shambhu and Khanauri borders.
Following the clashes and Singh’s death, farmer leaders decided to put a two-day stay on their ‘Delhi Chalo’ march. Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher, head of Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, said “We will have discussions over the incident that took place in Khanauri. There will be a two-day stay on our march towards Delhi. We will clarify the entire situation later as to what our further movement will be.”