Group of 101 farmers to make 4th bid to reach Delhi on Jan 21

The jatha will start marching from Shambhu border

- HT Correspondent

PATIALA: A group of 101 farmers will make a fourth attempt to reach Delhi by crossing the Shambhu (Punjab-Haryana) border on January 21 to press for their demands, including a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP) on crops, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said on Thursday.

The "jatha" (group) of 101 farmers, termed as Marjeevdas (those ready to sacrifice their lives), had earlier made three attempts to reach Delhi on foot on December 6, 8 and 14, last year, but their attempts were thwarted by the Haryana Police and paramilitary forces, who used tear gas shells, water cannons and pepper sprays to stop them from entering the state. Nearly 50 farmers were left injured in these attempts.

Unlike the earlier three attempts, this 'Delhi Chalo' march has been announced jointly by the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) and Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political).

KMM convener Sarwan Singh Pandher said, "I don't think the Union government is in any mood to hold talks with us. Our group of 101 Marjeevdas will make another attempt to reach Delhi on January 21. It is now up to the government to either fulfil our demands or kill us." Announcing the action plan, Pandher said farmer leaders Manjit Singh Rai and Balwant Singh Behramke would lead the group.