Farmers’ Protest 2.0: Before the Protest March on 21 Feb

As the Haryana govt. learned of the farmers’ reinforced and modified earth digging equipment, they asked the Panjab govt. to stop such vehicles from reaching the Shambhu border. Panjab Police issued instructions, but the vehicles were already at the borders. The farmers gave a verbal commitment to not use them first. The Punjab and Haryana High Court refused to admit a petition to ban that equipment from reaching the protest site. The night had been tense, the day started calm, prayers commenced. Farmer leaders once again appealed to the government to listen to their demands. Sarwan Singh Pandher said, ‘Those security forces are also ours. We will not attack them. We will meet them with empty hands.’ Jagjit Singh Dallewal addressed the protestors. He made them take an oath to not attack the security personnel and to not go in groups, and announced the leaders will lead the march. Even if there are casualties, the farmers are not to get violent. ‘Else we lose both lives and our protest space.’ As some youth moved towards the borders both at Shambhu and Khanauri, the security forces indulged in extensive tear gas shelling. The march was planned for 11 am. At 11.15 am, Arjun Munda, Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare of India indicated the government is willing to conduct talks. This is the fifth round. At the time of publication, news is coming in that 23-year Shubhkaran Singh from Bathinda has died from police bullet injuries at Khanauri. Eye witnesses are saying police have picked up a couple of men, broken the legs of two of them, others have bullet injuries. At Shambu, around 25 farmers sustained injuries. While Haryana’s farmers are participating in the protest, the government of India is testing Panjab’s patience.