New Delhi—Hundreds of thousands of farmers who have dug in their heels near Delhi for more than two weeks now, are paying a very high cost for their struggle. In the last fortnight, one body on an average has come back from Singhu and Tikri borders to grieving families in Punjab while the government remains unmoved.
The farmers have lost their fellow protesters to road accidents, heart attack and cold over the course of 15 days. Four have died in accidents, 10 suffered cardiac arrest and one succumbed to cold. The first casualty was reported in the beginning of Dilli Chalo Morcha scheduled for November 26 when preparations were going on across the state. On November 24, Kahan Singh, an activist of Bharatiya Kisan Union(Dakaunda) from Dhaner village, was hit by a car in Mehalkalan town of Barnala while assisting a large group of farmers to cover tractor trailers with water-proof sheets. He died on the spot. Another farmer, Dhanna Singh died in an accident near Hisar on November 27 when farmers were speeding towards Delhi in their tractor after breaking the barricades.
The list has only increased since then, with one name being added daily on an average. Not just men, women who are actively participating in the stir, have lost their lives too. On December 7, Rajinder Kaur of Gangohar, Barnala died at Mehal Kalan toll barrier due to a heart attack. A day later on December 8, Gurmail Kaur of Gharachon village in Bathinda suffered a fatal heart attack during a sit-in at a toll barrier in Sangrur’s Kalajhar village. “They all are martyrs. We will always be indebted to them for their sacrifice. We are more resolved now to get our demands fulfilled,” said Makhan Singh, a BKU leader from Moga.
A lot of protesters have suffered serious injuries too when the Haryana police unleashed water cannons, tear gas and lathicharged them as they were peacefully marching towards the national capital. General secretary, BKU(Ugrahan) Sukhdev Singh Kokri fractured his arm in the attack.
“The government is insensitive and indifferent towards the farmers. We are literally on roads in extreme cold, having left our families behind, and the government is lingering on our demands,” says an angry Singh. “We may lose more people, having already lost 15 but we won’t go back till the government gives in. We are answerable to the departed too. How can we get their sacrifice go in vain?,” he asks.
BOX
November 24: Kahan Singh(Dhaner, Barnala)
November 27: Dhanna Singh(Chehlanwali)
November 28: Gajjan Singh(Bhangu Khatra)
November 29: Janak Raj(Dhanaula, Barnala)
November 30: Gurdev Singh(Attar Singhwala)
December 2: Gurjant Singh(Bachhoana, Mansa)
December 3: Gurbachan Singh Sibia(Bhinderkhurd, Moga), Baljinder Singh(Jhamat, Ludhiana)
December 4: Lakhvir Singh(Laleana, Bathinda)
December 7: Karnail Singh(Sherpur, Sangrur), Rajinder Kaur(Gangohar, Barnala)
December 8: Gurmail Kaur(Gharachon, Bathinda), Mewa Singh(Khote, Faridkot), Ajay Kumar Mor(Sonipat), Lakhvir Singh(Jharon, Sangrur)
