Farmers Extend their Pause on the Delhi Chalo Agitation, Plan Candle Marches and Seminars at Border

The farmers have decided to put off their ‘Delhi Chalo’ agitation till February 29, however the protestors will continue to camp along the Sambhu and the Khanauri borders. Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pander has stated that they are taking this time to chalk out the future course of their protest movement.

Farmers stationed along the borders will hold candle marches on February 24, seminars about farming issues on February 25, burn effigies of the World Trade Organization and the Centre on February 26, and hold crucial meetings over the next two days. During their protests on Friday, the farmers burned effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other government ministers, raising black flags on tractors and tying black cloth on their turbans in solidarity.

The farmers have made a list of 13 demands that includes a legal guarantee on the minimum stock price of their produce, a waiver on agricultural loans, pensions for farmers, implementation of the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission amongst others. They have been in talks with the Union Ministry pushing for the fruition of their demands. A total of 4 rounds of talks have taken place. While the first three rounds failed to yield any results, the union ministers proposed a 5 year plan of procuring produce such as pulses, maize, and cotton from the farmers at a MSP. However, the protesting farmers did not accept the plan.

Once the protests resumed after the failure of the fourth round of talks, a 21-year-old protesting farmer, Shubhkaran Singh sustained bullet injuries and lost his life during the clashed between the farmers and the Haryana Police at the Khanauri border on Wednesday. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced a compensation of ₹1 crore and a government job for the sister of farmer Shubhkaran Singh. Mann promised strict action against those responsible for Singh's death. Farmer leaders had demanded financial aid, a job for Singh's family, and "martyr" status for him. The cremation of Singh has been put on hold until the Punjab government files a case against the Haryana police who the farmers hold accountable. Despite Mann's announcement, farmer leaders continued to insist on legal action before proceeding with the cremation.

In addition, Darshan Singh, a 62-year-old farmer from Amargarh village in Bathinda district, died from a heart attack while taking part in the 'Delhi Chalo' protest at Khanauri on the Punjab-Haryana border. This adds the series of deaths during the ongoing protests, including a 72-year-old and a 63-year-old who also died from heart attacks.

Rashtriya Lok Dal leader Jayant Chaudhary urged the farmers to be patient, assuring that a resolution will emerge. He appealed for restraint from both sides following the death of a young farmer. Meanwhile, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar announced a waiver of interest and penalty on specific crop loans in the ₹1.89-lakh-crore budget for 2024-25. Khattar highlighted his government's efforts for farmers' welfare, emphasizing that Minimum Support Price is provided for 14 crops.

In light of recent events, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced on Friday that the Centre has established a three-member ministerial committee to hold talks with the farmers. Sitharaman emphasized the government's dedication to the well-being of farmers and pointed out Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ongoing initiatives in this regard.