News Brief
Protesting Punjab Farmers To Resume Foot March To Delhi On 14 December
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Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher announced on Tuesday (10 December) that the protesting Punjab farmers would resume their foot march to Delhi on 14 December, citing the lack of communication from the Central government to initiate dialogue, reported Hindustan Times.
Speaking at the Shambhu border protest site, Pandher stated, “We did not want farmers to be blamed that they do not want to hold talks to find a way out. We gave time, but there has been no message from the government (Centre) side for talks.”
The decision was made after a meeting of two farmer groups—Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha.
“The Union government has ample time to initiate talks with us; otherwise, we will resume our protest on 14 December,” Pandher added.
The farmers had earlier postponed their march following injuries sustained by some protesters in tear gas shelling by Haryana security forces, who stopped their advance at the Punjab-Haryana border.
Meanwhile, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan met with representatives of three Haryana-based khap groups—Naugama Khap Kisan Sangathan from Jind, Satrol Khap Seva Samiti from Hisar, and Nandal Khap from Rohtak—as well as a farmers’ group from Chhattisgarh.
“During the meeting, the farmers’ organizations appreciated the Central government’s work done for agriculture and farmers’ welfare. They also submitted some important suggestions,” Chouhan said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Reacting to the Union minister’s meeting with khap representatives, Pandher criticised the lack of outreach to the protesting farmers.
“Haryana government officials spoke to us thrice and then stopped meeting us. Nobody from the Centre has contacted us so far. What’s the point of the Union agriculture minister meeting farmer groups aligned to his party? Why doesn’t he invite us?” he questioned.
