'Will Burn Effigies Of WTO, Corporate Houses': Protestors Ask PM Modi To Speak On Farmers' Situation. Top Points
Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said that the protest will continue until all their demands are met.
Farmers Protest: As the farmers participating in the 'Dilli Chalo' march continue to stay put at the Punjab-Haryana border, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said that the protest will continue until all their demands are met. He also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to speak on "whatever is happening with the farmers," as quoted by news agency ANI on Sunday. Pandher stated that on February 26, biers and effigies of the WTO, corporate houses, and governments will be burned.
"Today, is the 13th day of the morchas at Shambhu and Khanauri. Today, we will have a convention on both borders as there will be a discussion on the WTO. We have demanded that the farming sector should be taken out of WTO...We will hold a press conference in the evening," Pandher said, as quoted by ANI.
#WATCH | Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher says, "Today, is the 13th day of the morchas at Shambhu and Khanauri. Today, we will have a convention on both borders as there will be a discussion on WTO. We have demanded that the farming sector should be taken out of WTO...We will… pic.twitter.com/Zm1GTAWZ1g
— ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2024
The farmers' 'Delhi Chalo' march is currently on hold till February 29. Security remained tight at the Singhu border on Sunday morning as reported by news agency PTI.
VIDEO | Farmers' protest: Security remains tightened at Singhu border.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 25, 2024
The farmers' 'Delhi Chalo' march is currently on hold till February 29. pic.twitter.com/wGaRsK22AY
Pandher said that a convention on both Shambhu and Khanauri borders will be held today as there will be a discussion on WTO. He further said that the farmers have demanded that the farming sector should be taken out of WTO. The farmer leader said that protestors will hold a discussion on how WTO’s policies are affecting the farmers and the outcome will be announced in the evening.
Farmers Protest: Top Points
- Farmer leader Pandher said that on the morning of February 26, biers of WTO, corporate houses and governments will be burned and in the afternoon over 20ft tall effigies will be burned. "On the morning of 26th Feb, biers of WTO, corporate houses and governments will be burned; in the afternoon, at both borders over 20ft tall effigies will be burned. On 27th Feb, Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, SKM (non-political) will hold a meeting of all its leaders from across the country. On 28th Feb, both forums will sit and hold a discussion. On 29th Feb, the next steps will be decided...We are asking PM Modi to speak on whatever is happening with the farmers," he said.
- On Sunday, authorities in the national capital began the process to partially reopen the Singhu and Tikri borders with Haryana, PTI reported, citing officials. This comes almost two weeks after these were sealed in view of the protest. According to a Delhi Police officer, one lane of the service lane at the Singhu border and one lane at the Tikri border are being opened to allow the movement of vehicles.
- The two border points were sealed on February 13 as protesting farmers from Punjab began their march against the Centre for their demands, including a legal guarantee on the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops and a farm loan waiver.
- According to another police officer, the decision was taken after the protesting farmers announced a halt to the march until the end of this month, as reported by PTI. "The situation will remain under watch, and, if required, the borders may be shut again," he said.
- In an attempt to stop the entry of the protesting farmers, multi-layer concrete barricades reinforced with nails and barbed wires and trucks filled with sand and boulders were set up at these two border points by the police.
- The barricades are being removed with cranes and drilling machines, an officer said, as reported by PTI. He further stated that the process may take hours. Following the closure of the border points, locals staying there have been facing problems for the past two weeks.
- Thousands of farmers have been camping on the Punjab-Haryana border near Ambala, about 200 kilometres from the national capital, after their protest towards Delhi was stopped by security personnel.
- According to another police officer, the situation at the Ghazipur (Uttar Pradesh) border will remain the same as the lanes under the flyover will continue to be shut, as reported by PTI.