23 February
Sandeep Dhand
In a shocking turn of events on February 21, the Haryana Police’s actions in Shambhu and Khanuri have drawn severe criticism from farmer leaders. The incident involved the shooting of a young farmer at the Khanuri border and the alleged beating of farmers, coupled with the vandalism of tractors by the Haryana Police in Punjab. Farmer leaders Sarwan Singh Pandher, Jagjit Singh Dallewal, and Surjit Singh Phool, spearheading the ongoing farmers’ sit-ins during the Delhi march, have termed these actions as unconstitutional, undemocratic, and criminal.
Expressing their discontent at a press conference held at the Government Rajindra Hospital, the leaders invited people, especially Punjabis, to display solidarity by installing black flags on their vehicles, homes, shops, and business places. Despite enduring heavy torture, the farmers have maintained a peaceful movement. The leaders lamented that, instead of reciprocating the peaceful approach, the Haryana Police resorted to continuous firing of tear gas shells since the inception of the movement. The day of February 21, according to the leaders, will be remembered in history with black letters, marking a dark chapter in the ongoing farmers’ protest.