The event, which took place in 2021, resulted in the tragic deaths of four farmers who were struck by a car while protesting.
A tense situation unfolded on Tuesday at the Shambhu border crossing between Punjab and Haryana, where clashes broke out between farmers and authorities, leading to the deployment of tear gas and water cannons. In response to the use of force, the farmers also retaliated. The confrontation occurred as farmers from both states gathered at the border, determined to march to the national capital as part of their ‘Delhi Chalo’ call.
The mass mobilisation, similar to the protests of 2020-21, involved around 200 farmer unions and an estimated one lakh farmers from neighboring states such as Haryana, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh, rallying towards Delhi.
Images from the scene showed thick smoke in the area, obstructing visibility, as hundreds of farmers, supporters, and media personnel navigated through the chaos caused by tear gas shelling.
The protest, organized by the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha and Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, led by leaders Jagjeet Singh Dallewal and Sarwan Singh Pandher, has highlighted 12 key demands presented to the central government.
One of the demands voiced by the farmers is justice for the victims of the Lakhimpur Kheri incident, with MoS Ajay Mishra at the center of it all.
Who is Ajay Mishra Teni and what happened in Lakhimpur Kheri?
The tragic event, which occurred in 2021, saw four farmers fatally mowed down by a car while staging protests against the now-repealed farm laws.
Allegations of retaliation resulted in the deaths of a driver and two BJP workers.
Ajay Kumar Mishra’s son, Ashish Mishra, was charged with murder and criminal conspiracy by a special investigation team of the UP Police, as he was allegedly driving the vehicle.
What are the other demands?
In addition to seeking justice for the victims and withdrawal of cases against protesters, the farmers have outlined a comprehensive set of demands. These include the enactment of legislation ensuring a minimum support price for all crops, debt waivers, pension schemes for farmers and laborers, and the scrapping of the Electricity Amendment Bill 2020.
Furthermore, the farmers advocate for the reintroduction of the Land Acquisition Act of 2013, emphasizing consent and fair compensation. They also call for enhancements to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, proposing increased employment opportunities and wages linked to farming.
Echoing widespread support for the ‘Delhi Chalo’ movement, farmer leader Rakesh Tikait emphasized the significance of addressing issues such as MSP legislation and the implementation of the Swaminathan Committee report, which resonate with farming communities across the nation.