Tragic Start To New Year For Protesting Farmers, 57-Year-Old Dies Of Heart Attack At Ghazipur

The ongoing farmers' protests across the borders of Delhi got off to a tragic start on New Year after a participant in the sit-in demonstrations died of a heart attack.

The farmer, identified as Galtan Singh, a resident of Bhagwanpur Nagal village in Baghpat district of Uttar Pradesh, died on Friday.

BCCL

According to Saurav, an associate of Bhartiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait, "Galtan Singh was in good health and fit and but he suddenly felt uneasy with complaint of chest pains and was taken to the hospital but he died on the way. The body has been sent to his village."

Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader from Uttar Pradesh Sachin Chaudhary, who has been protesting against the three farm laws at Ghazipur border, said, "Sacrifice of Galtan Singh will not go in vain."

Several farmers have died during the protest to severe cold weather, he added.

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Bharatiya Kisan Union (Lakhowal) General Secretary Harinder Singh Lakhowal said, "The farmers have been protesting at the bordering areas of the national Capital since November 26, 2020 and the death toll of farmers has reached to 43 since then."

The government should listen to those who are ready to sacrifice their lives and repeal the agricultural laws which are anti-farmers, he added.

On the eve of the New Year, a tribute was paid to all farmers who died during the protest.

AFP

The farmers protesting have been demanding the withdrawal of the three laws and legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP) which is declared every year by the Centre for 23 crops while the government has assured them that it will accept their two more demands related to stubble burning and electricity subsidies.

Farmers' protest is going on at Singhu border, Tikri border and Ghazipur border amid severe cold conditions in Delhi and NCR as the mercury plummeted to 1.1 degree Celsius on the New Year's day on Friday.

The government and the farmers held several rounds of talks till now and on Wednesday the Centre had said that the two sides had reached consensus on two out of the four key issues.

BCCL

With the government refusing to pay heed to their demand for a total repeal of the contentious laws, the farmers are set to amp up their protests.

"If the 6th round talks with the government are not fruitful then the Shahjahanpur border blockage will be moved towards Delhi and 'Desh Jagruti Abhiyan' will be organised from January 6 to 20 across the country," the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) which is leading the protests said.