Farmers observed Sankalp Diwas to pay respects to Martyrs of Mandsaur Police Firing in 2017

Standoff continues between farmers and Haryana govt over release of arrested leaders

farmers

Many online and offline events were organised to marked the “Sankalp Diwas” that was organised today on June 6th, to remember and pay respects to six martyrs who were killed by police brutality in Mandsaur of Madhya Pradesh, in 2017. Abhishek, Punamchand, Chenram, Satyanarayan, Kanhaiyalal and Ghanshyam were killed by Madhya Pradesh police on this day in 2017 during an agitation in Mandsaur, where they were demanding remunerative prices for their farm produce. It is to be noted that the BJP was in power in the state at the time of the murders.

Instead of punishing the police personnel responsible for the murder of these farmers, the government there gave a clean chit to them. Throughout the country, in events organised by farmers’ organisations, Farmers took an oath to secure farmers’ basic demands, and to continue to push for the same until the government fulfills the demands in full.

Stand-off Between Farmers and Haryana Govt continued on Day 2 in Tohana – Farmers will not budge until arrested leaders are released and all cases withdrawn – Call for state-wide protests at Haryana police stations tomorrow

The Stand-off Between Farmers and Haryana Govt continues on Day 2 in Tohana. Hundreds of farmers had to spend the night in the open at Tohana Police Station because SKM leaders Ravi Azad and Vikas Sisar who were arrested by the Haryana Police, were not released and the administration did not agree to withdrawing the cases. Farmers have stated that they will not budge until arrested leaders are released and all cases withdrawn; They have called for state-wide protests at Haryana police stations tomorrow.

Farmers Protest Tikait Sit In
Farmers Protest Ongoing: sit-in at Haryana police station. Source: India Express, by Manoj Dakha

In reposnse to the standoff between Haryana Govt and farmers, The JJP MLA of Tohana Devender Singh Babli put out a perfunctory apology yesterday night for hurling abuses at protestors on 1st June; He stated that what he said was not “shobhneey” or graceful, that he regrets the same and is withdrawing those statements.

 

Leading the protests are Gurnam Singh Charuni, Rakesh Tikait, Yogendra Yadav, Yudhvir Singh, Joginder Nain, Suresh Koth and others from the Samyukt Kisan Morcha. Farmers had to pitch shamianas outside the police station to continue with the protest.

Haryana farmer unions have given a call that on the 7th of June (tomorrow), there will be state-wide gherao of all police stations in the state. There is an appeal to all Haryana citizens especially farmers of Sirsa, Fatehabad, Jind and Hisar, to assemble in large numbers at Tohana police station to show collective strength. Farmers of other districts have been encouraged to protest at their respective local police stations.

Thousands of protestors pouring into protest sites at Delhi’s Borders in a renewed surge in the farmers’ struggle

SKM leaders have repeatedly announced that they will not budge from the station until the two arrested are released and cases withdrawn. Marathon meetings have not yet resulted in a breakthrough however it noteworthy that number of protesting farmers is swelling by the hour.

Agitating farmers have continually stated that they will return home and withdraw their agitation, only if the 3 black central farm laws are repealed, and remunerative MSP is provided as a legal right. In today’s event, farmers also vowed to continue the struggle initiated by the six Mandsaur martyrs and others and take it to the logical conclusion. They committed to taking the mission of the farmers’ movement to all villages of India and to strengthen the unity of farmers and workers. On this occasion, a meeting was organised to pay tributes at the memorial built for the martyrs in Mandsaur too, with SKM leaders also participating in the same. The event was live-streamed in an online meeting.

Thousands of protestors continue to pour into the protest morchas at Singhu Border, Tikri Border, Ghazipur and other locations. Large convoys of hundreds of vehicles have joined the protest sites today too. Many have joined from Ambala in Haryana, led by BKU Gurnam Singh Charuni. While the BJP continues to try to create an image of dwindling numbers at the protest sites, it is important to note that quite the opposite is the case.

SKM notes that there has been widespread response to its call for June 5th and reports are still pouring in from various locations including distant locations like Kerala in the south and several states of eastern India, along with visuals of protestors burning copies of the 3 Acts. There has been wide media coverage too, national as well as local.

Read: Ground Report: How the Farmers Protests are Intensifying in Punjab

Donate

Independent journalism can’t be independent without your support, contribute by clicking below.

March 2024
M T W T F S S
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here