The untimely demise of a young farmer, who lost his life in clashes with security forces at the interstate border between Punjab and Haryana, has sparked yet another wave of protests among the agricultural community. The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), a collective of over forty farmers’ unions, has thrown its full support behind the growing dissent by observing ‘Black Friday.’ The SKM’s presence is significant, having previously led the anti-farm laws satyagraha in 2020. Statements by SKM leaders, including Balbir Singh Rajewal, in Chandigarh emphasized the determination of the farmer coalitions to pursue their demands. Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait of Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) announced that a tractor march towards Delhi would also be part of their protest efforts.
Farmers’ anguish was further fueled when accusations arose against the Punjab government for its alleged inaction following the protester’s death at the Khanauri border. Sarwan Singh Pandher, General Secretary of the Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, criticized the government for not only failing to file a First Information Report (FIR) but also for ‘insulting the martyrdom’ of their fallen comrade, Shubhkaran Singh. Despite assertions by the leaders that they had reached an agreement with the Punjab officials – which included filing a murder charge, bestowing ‘martyr’ status on Shubhkaran Singh, agreeing on compensation discussions, and promising a proper inquiry into the death – response from the government was alleged to be delayed or non-existent. Outrage continued to simmer as Shubhkaran Singh’s body remained in the hospital, neglected by the state.
In a subsequent congregation, the SKM laid out a strategy calling for nationwide mobilization, with varied programs aimed at backing their demands. This development followed the tragic incident where 21-year-old Shubhkaran Singh was killed when farmers, attempting to march from Punjab to Delhi, were met with violence. The farmers, pressing for demands such as a legal guarantee for crop procurement at a Minimum Support Price (MSP) and farm loan waivers, had been prevented from entering Haryana since mid-February. The SKM is now demanding a FIR against Haryana officials for the farmer’s death, seeking a judicial probe by a Supreme Court judge into the firing incident, and has announced the observance of February 23 as a Black Day. A ‘Kisan Mazdoor Mahapanchayat’ has also been slated for March 14 at the Ramlila ground in New Delhi.
Amid the turmoil, Punjab chief minister announced a grant of ₹1 crore to the family of Shubhkaran Singh and a job for his sister, aiming to provide relief to the bereaved family. In the political arena, opposition parties in Punjab have leveled blame at the state government. Shiromani Akali Dal’s Bikram Majithia and Congress MP Partap Singh Bajwa have accused Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of complacency, with Bajwa labeling the chief minister as a puppet of the BJP due to his failure to initiate a formal complaint against the Haryana Police’s previous actions against farmers.