Atleast 22 Farmers Have Died So Far During Protests As Agitation Shows No Signs Of Slowing Down
The farmers' protest which has been going on for nearly a month now is turning out to be?one of the biggest and toughest of its kind demonstrations India has seen in a long time.
The thousands of farmers, both young and old who have come from Punjab, Haryana, and elsewhere, remain adamant about forcing the government to repeal the three farm laws which they have been opposing since it was introduced.
At least 22 farmers lost their lives so far
While the farmers including the elderly, women, and children are bracing it out during the punishing Delhi winters, they have lost at least 22 of their people who have been part of the protests and died of various causes.
According to the protest leaders, seven farmers died due to the cold and heart attacks at the Tikri border. Six persons have died at the Singhu border, including Sant Baba Ram Singh, who shot himself on Wednesday. At least nine farmers have died in road accidents en route to the protest venues from their villages or while returning back from the protest sites.
Outrage across the country
The deaths, especially of Sikh priest Sant Baba Ram Singh have sparked much anger among the protesters who say that the Modi government is indifferent to their plight.
Many recalled that Sant Ram Singh dedicated his life to serving humanity and used to organise 'satsangs' (prayer meetings) and 'langars' (community kitchen) for thousands of people.
Sant Ram Singh was "deeply hurt" to see the pain and sufferings of thousands of farmers who are braving the cold on the roads for the past several days to demand the withdrawal of the "anti-farmer laws", Haryana Bharatiya Kisan Union chief Gurnam Singh said.?
Sant Ram Singh's body was on Wednesday night taken to the Nanaksar Gurdwara in Karnal's Singhra village. The cremation will take place on Friday.
Several political parties lend support to farmers
A number of political leaders including Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal, former Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee chief and SAD leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Haryana Congress president Kumari Selja also visited the gurdwara to pay their last respects.
According to police, Sant Ram Singh allegedly died by suicide near Delhi's Singhu border on Wednesday.
A handwritten note in Punjabi, purportedly left behind by the deceased, said he was unable to bear the "pain of farmers" who have been protesting against the Centre's agriculture reform laws. The note is being verified by the police.
On Sunday, December 20, the protest leaders said they will be holding a ‘Homage and Remembrance Day’ for the farmers who died during the agitation.
