New Delhi: Farmers encamped on Punjab's border with Haryana continued to press the Union government for various demands, as they burn effigies and chant slogans advocating for the removal of the agriculture sector from the WTO agreement.
Situated approximately 200 kilometers from Delhi, thousands of farmers, accompanied by their tractor-trolleys and trucks, have stationed themselves at Khanauri and Shambhu after their march to the national capital was thwarted by security forces, reported PTI.
Their demands include a legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) for crops.
The 'Delhi Chalo' march, organized by Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM). The protests were held as trade ministers of 164 WTO member countries gathered in Abu Dhabi for the 13th ministerial conference (MC13). The highest decision-making body started the four-day meet on February 26 in the UAE, as per the PTI report.
On farmers’ demand to exit the WTO, farmer leader Sukhjeet Singh said, “In the morning, demonstrations were held in villages all over the country against WTO and effigies were burned in the evening at both Shambhu and Khanauri borders. This opposition to the WTO explains that we do not agree with their policies."
Farmer leaders at the protest assert that the WTO's agenda aims to terminate farm subsidies, deeming it "suicidal" for India to adhere to such policies on the agricultural front.
Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said, "Today we organised the funeral of WTO at Khanauri and Shambhu borders, the programme was organised in 13 states. We want to make it clear that this movement will continue till formation MSP guarantee law and waiver of farm loans."
In the wake of protester Shubhkaran Singh's death during clashes in Khanauri, KMM leader Sarwan Singh Pandher reiterated calls for the Punjab government to register an FIR against those accountable, PTI reported.
Shubhkaran (21), a native of Bathinda, was killed in the clash in Khanauri last Wednesday when some protesters tried to head towards the barricades erected by security personnel.
The farmers' insistence on an FIR has led to Shubhkaran's body being retained at Rajindra Hospital's mortuary in Patiala. The post-mortem has not been conducted yet.
Shubhkaran's demise led to a temporary halt in the farmers' march to Delhi, with leaders declaring the continuation of their encampment until February 29, pending further decisions.