Farmers' Protest: SKM Shares List Of 702 People With Centre Who Allegedly Died During Agitation

This comes after the government earlier this week told the Parliament that it has no record of anyone losing life due to agitation and added hence the question of granting compensation does not arise.

Samyukta Kisan Morcha leaders | File Image

New Delhi: Days after the Centre informed the Parliament that it does not have record of the farmers who lost their lives during protest against the three contentious farm laws, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Saturday sent a list of 702 people who have allegedly “died” during the agitation.

“We have sent a list of 702 farmers who were martyred during the agitation,” IANS quoted farmers' leader Kishan Pal as saying.

This comes after the government earlier this week told the Parliament that it has no record of anyone losing life due to agitation and added hence the question of granting compensation does not arise.

Oppn Corners Modi Govt For ‘No Record Of Farmers Who Died’

The ruling dispensation made this assertion as the Opposition demanded compensation for the kin of the farmers who lost their lives during the year-long protest against the farm laws.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had earlier on Friday lambasted Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government over its reluctance to give financial assistance to the families of the deceased farmers.

He came up with a list of over 400 deceased farmers and claimed the Congress-ruled Punjab government has given compensation to their families.

“The government says that it does not have any record. We have data of 503 farmers. If the government wants, it can take the list from us. The Punjab government has given compensation to 403 families and jobs to 152 affected families,” he added.

Samyukta Kisan Morcha Meet Underway To Decide Next Move:

Meanwhile, several farmer leaders, under the aegis of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, are holding an important meeting to discuss and deliberate upon the future course of action after the repeal of three farm laws.

The farmer leaders from Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and other places are currently discussing the way forward in a close-door meeting that began over two hours ago, PTI reported.

The meeting at the Singhu border, which has been the epicentre of the farmers’ protests that began in late November last year, assumes significance as it is taking place less than a week after the ruling dispensation had passed a bill in the Parliament to repeal the three farm laws.

Besides compensation for the families of those dead, the farmers are also demanding withdrawal of the cases registered against them and a law to guarantee minimum support price (MSP) for their crops.