Haryana: With influence of farm outfits limited, common man pushes farmers’ protest forward
The main support for the agitation is coming from the “aam aadmi” in Haryana with a sense among farmers that corporates will eat out their agricultural land sooner or later. This time, youth especially from the farming community have participated in the agitation very enthusiastically. Updated: December 18, 2020 1:03:37 pm
An elderly farmers shouts slogans as others listen to a speaker as they block a major highway during a protest at the Delhi-Haryana border (AP photo)
Despite limited presence of farm unions in the state, Haryana has seen a surge in participation of local farmers in the protest. It is after several years that the state has seen such a farmer agitation where the common man has been leading the charge.
As Singhra mourns its loss, locals recall deaths of two farmers in a 1993 agitation
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar termed the 65-year-old preacher s death “an irreparable loss” while his Punjab counterpart Capt Amarinder Singh also expressed grief over the demise of Baba Ram Singh. December 18, 2020 10:40:13 am
Followers queue up to pay homage to the mortal remains of Baba Ram Singh at Singhra gurdwara, in Karnal, Thursday. (Sukhbir Siwach)
Shiromani Akali Dal leaders and a large number of followers of Sikh preacher Baba Ram Singh, who died of a bullet injury, paid their last respects to him at the Nanaksar Gurdwara in Karnal’s Singhra village on Thursday.
Priest kills self near Singhu, ‘suicide note’ says hurt by farmers’ plight
While Baba Ram Singh is reported to have shot himself with his licensed revolver, Kundli police station SHO Ravi Kumar said they were yet to ascertain the weapon used. “His associates have given a statement to the police that he died by suicide. Our probe is on,” he said. Updated: December 17, 2020 10:20:28 am
The body was taken to Karnal for a postmortem examination. Officials said it will later be taken to the Nanaksar Gurdwara in Singhra village, where a large number of his followers have gathered. The last rites are set to be held on Friday.
Day before death, Sikh preacher went to farm protest site, say associates
In a purported suicide note, Baba Ram Singh, also known as Nanaksar Singhra Wale, had expressed pain over the plight of farmers protesting against the Centre’s farm laws. Updated: December 18, 2020 8:29:11 am
Followers queue up to pay respects to Baba Ram Singh at Singhra gurdwara. (Express photo by Sukhbir Siwach)
THE SIKH preacher who died of a bullet injury Wednesday at Kundli near the Singhu border of Delhi, with his associates saying that he shot himself with his licensed revolver, had visited the farm protest sites twice earlier, including on the day before his death, according to followers.
An officer, requesting anonymity, further said: “We are in contact with farmer leaders, urging them to not increase the number of protesters at Delhi borders. If any major development takes place, we will reason and negotiate with them and try to stop them, if necessary. We have appealed to the Punjab government that more people should not be sent to the borders… With winter setting in, we would try to ensure the numbers don’t go up further. The situation is increasingly becoming unsustainable; more than 30-40 people have been hospitalised due to different illnesses.”
On the other hand, farmers at Singhu border said they won’t budge unless the farm laws are repealed. “Fateh karke hi jayenge (We will return only after winning the battle),” said Puran Singh, who travelled 520 km from Bachivind village on Punjab’s Atari border to Singhu. His tractor was part of a cavalcade of 100 tractor trolleys that arrived from Punjab villages.