TAD NewsDesk, New Delhi: The agitating farmers have been protesting in Delhi since the initiation of the Centre farm laws and during this tenure many have lost their lives. A tribute ceremony was held and on Sunday homage was paid to 41 farmers who lost their lives since September 15 as the protest intensified for the Centre farm laws.
Sukhdev Singh Kokrikalan, general secretary of BKU (Ugrahan),
“Our union organised programmes to pay tributes to farmers in 98 villages of Punjab on Sunday. We will continue to pay them tributes by organising these programmes in 15 districts of Punjab till December 24.”
Holding pictures of those who died during these protests, the farmers moved through various lanes of villages as well as cities. The first death had happened on September 18 when Preetam Singh, 65, of Akkanwali of Mansa village, consumed sulphas tablets at a dharna outside former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal’s house. He was rushed to hospital but he died. He died a day after ordinances were passed in Lok Sabha while Pakka morcha had been going on outside Badal’s house since September 15. His body was cremated after the government gave compensation of Rs 3 lakh, job letter to a family member and promise of loan waiver.
Among these 41 farmers, 30 belonged to the Malwa belt alone six from Doaba belt, two from Majha belt and three from Haryana.
Farmers started for Delhi on November 26 and on a very despairing note, the first death happened on November 27. Dhanna Singh belonged to the Mansa village and died during his tractor ride which got hit by a truck from behind near Bhiwani.
In Delhi, many farmers died due to cold weather while few others in road accidents due to fog. Kokrikalan said, “All farmers who were members of BKU (Ugrahan) have been given compensation by Punjab government ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh.”
Another case of suicide has come to attention. Gurlabh Singh aged 22 has returned from the Singhu border and committed suicide. According to sources, he consumed something poisonous at his home on Saturday.
The three Centre farm laws and the protest against it have been continuing since a very long time now. In the freezing cold season of the Delhi weather, the farmers are staying put and continuing their agitation. There is yet to reach any resolution or come to a common consensus between the government and the farmers.
Source: The Indian Express
