Shambu Border, 31 January 2025: A 65-year-old farmer, Pargat Singh from Kakkar village in Amritsar’s Lopoke Tehsil, died on Friday at the protest site on the Shambhu border.
According to Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) chief Sarwan Singh Pandher, Singh collapsed while going to relieve himself in the morning. Fellow protesters rushed him to Rajpura’s government hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.
Singh, who owned two acres of land, is survived by his three children. Pandher stated that over 40 farmers have died at the Khanauri and Shambhu protest sites so far.
“We do not know how many more farmers will have to sacrifice their lives before the government agrees to our demands,” said Pandher, reiterating their call for compensation and a waiver of loans taken from banks and private financial institutions.
As the Kisan Andolan 2.0 marks its first anniversary on February 13, farmers plan to hold three Kisan Mahapanchayats from February 11 to 13.
Announced by farmer leaders Inderjit Singh Kotbuddha, Lakhwinder Singh Aulakh, and Sukhjit Singh Hardo Jhande, the gatherings will be held under the joint banner of Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha.
Meanwhile, Bharti Kisan Union (BKU-Ekta Ugrahan) chief Joginder Singh Ugrahan stated that there has been no response to their proposal for a third round of talks on February 12.
This comes days after Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been on an indefinite fast for 68 days, urged kisan unions to put aside differences.
Dallewal questioned the need for multiple rounds of meetings when the “Ekta” resolution received public backing during the Kisan Mahapanchayat on January 9.
Meetings between farm unions were held on January 13 and 18 at Patran, but differences remain unresolved between KMM, SKM (Non-Political), and other factions protesting at Khanauri and Shambhu borders.
