Chandigarh: Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait on Thursday said the protesting farmers led by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) will observe a ‘Black Friday’ on Friday following the death of a farmer at Khanauri Border crossing in Sangrur district, Punjab, during the ongoing protests.
The coalition of over forty Indian farmers’ unions formed in 2020 to coordinate satyagragh against now-repealed three farm acts has stayed away from the fresh agitation. The call for intensified protests by SKM includes a “Jan Aakrosh” rally on Friday, a nationwide tractor rally on highways on February 26, and a maha panchayat in Delhi’s Ramlila Ground on March 14.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha also demanded Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and the state home minister Anil Vij be booked for the “murder” of the protesting farmer on the Punjab-Haryana border. SKM leader Balbir Singh Rajewal also called for the resignation of Khattar and Vij.
Haryana Police, meanwhile, has warned that damage to government and private property will lead to property seizure and bank account attachment of protestors. According to a release from the Ambala police, efforts by the farmers to break the barricade at the Shambhu Border and attempts to disrupt the law and order by pelting stones have caused a lot of damage to government and private property.
The SKM will also hold a tractor march on highways towards the national capital, said the BKU leader. Mr Tikait said, “We will observe a ‘Black Friday’ tomorrow condoling the death of a farmer at the Khanauri Border crossing in Punjab. We held a tractor march yesterday as well.”
Mr Tikait further announced that the protesting farmers will take out a tractor march on February 26.
“On February 26, we will take tractors to the highway, and towards the way that goes to Delhi. It will be a one-day programme, and then we will return. Then, all across India, our meetings will go on. On March 14, there will be a programme at Ram Leela Ground in Delhi for one day. People will go without tractors to that event. The government keeps saying that they are not stopping us so let’s see if they will stop us or not,” he added.
Mr Tikait led the farmers protest held in 2020-21 to cause the repeal of the three farm laws, which, later, were taken back by the central government.
The farmers have, meanwhile, halted their ‘Dilli Chalo’ protest march for two days to take stock of the ongoing situation on the Shambhu border in Haryana and further decisions will be taken accordingly, the general secretary of the Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee said on Thursday.
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