Delayed Post-Mortem and Ongoing Discussions: Farmers’ Agitation Faces Critical Moments
The post-mortem process for Shubhkaran Singh, a 23-year-old farmer who lost his life during the Delhi Chalo agitation, has been delayed as farmer organizations demand action against the Haryana Police officers involved. Discussions are ongoing at night with top officials of Punjab Police. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has assured appropriate action after the post-mortem. The farmer protest has been paused for the day, and Union Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda emphasizes readiness for consensus discussions. Leaders like Arvind Kejriwal and Akhilesh Yadav express grief, while Congress demands an FIR against Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij. Social media platform ‘X’ opposes the government’s proposal to remove posts supporting the strike, asserting the importance of freedom of expression.
In response to the tragic incident, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, leading the strike, form a committee for coordination and demand a judicial inquiry into the farmer’s killing. They seek a compensation of Rs 1 crore for the family and call for the resignations of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Haryana Chief Minister Manoharlal Khattar, and Home Minister Anil Vij. A tractor parade is planned for the 26th, and a Farmers’ Maha Panchayat is scheduled for March 14 at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauds the historic cabinet decision to increase the fair price of sugarcane for the 2024-25 season, emphasizing the government’s commitment to farmers’ welfare. The Haryana-Punjab High Court Bar Association boycotts courts in protest, and various petitions are filed, including one seeking a judicial inquiry and another from a journalist seeking action against the Haryana Police.
