162 farmers sacrificed their lives during Kisan morcha: Punjab Cultural Council
Council urges Centre to extend ex-gratia benefits to all 162 martyr farmers in fight against draconian agri laws
Harshabab Sidhu
Chandigarh, January 24, 2021: Punjab Cultural Council today announced the figures of farmers’ deaths, occurred since the agitation against the three farm laws has started. The council revealed that a total of 162 farmers lost their lives during the 122 days of the Kisan morcha.
Speaking during the press conference at Hotel Sunbeam, Sector 22, Chandigarh, Harjit Singh Grewal, president of Punjab Cultural Council, Dr. Tejinderpal Singh Nalwa, lawyer of the Supreme Court, and Kanwar Harbir Singh Dhindsa, joint secretary of Punjab Cultural Council, informed that the data collected through various media sources shows that out of 162 deaths, nine deaths have been reported from Haryana, three from Uttar Pradesh and one from Madhya Pradesh while the rest are from Punjab only.
Harjit Singh Grewal said that the agitation started by the farmers has gone through two phases as the protest initially remained for 60 days within the state only and after that on November 25, the farmers moved to Delhi borders.
“During the first phase, 13 deaths and one suicide were reported from Punjab, in which, Pritam Singh of Akanwali village in Mansa was the first farmer who lost his life amid the protest. During the Kisan morcha at Delhi borders, 149 deaths and nine suicides have been reported till Saturday night. Kahan Singh of Dhaner village in Barnala was the first farmer, who sacrificed his life at the Delhi border,” said Grewal.
Divulging the district-wise details of deaths in Punjab, Grewal informed that the maximum number of deaths were from Sangrur district – 22. 14 farmers lost their lives in the districts of Mansa and Patiala, nine in Barnala, eight in Bathinda and Ludhiana, seven in Fatehgarh Sahib and Fazilka, six in Amritsar and Muktsar, five in Moga, Hoshiarpur, Ferozepur, and Nawanshahr, three in Mohali, Ropar, Gurdaspur and Jalandhar, and two in Tarn Taran, he said.
Grewal also announced the religion-wise data of the martyr farmers and informed that 138 Sikhs, 21 Hindus, and three Muslims are included in this figure of 162 deaths.
Grewal also said that so far, only 70-80 deaths were shown by the media channels following which the Punjab Cultural Council took the responsibility of collecting the actual figures.
Taking jibes on the central government, Grewal said the stubborn Indian government is responsible for all the deaths of farmers. He added, “The central government is trying to impose the laws forcefully on the farmers despite their oppose from the very first day. Farmers have been fighting for their rights in a disciplined manner and the whole world is appreciating them. They are the ‘anndatas’, not businessmen. The government is looking to push the businessmen into farming. The situation will become even worse if the government does not repeal the laws.”
Dr. Tejinderpal Singh Nalwa announced that a legal team has been formed by the Punjab Cultural Council, which will fight free for all the farmers in the country, who have been charged by the police in various criminal cases during the protest.
“Farmers are fighting for the common people and our legal, as well as moral support, will be there for them. “We thank Captain Amarinder Singh government for providing the families of martyr farmers ex gratia grant of Rs 5 lakh and a job in each family. We also demand the same kind of help from the governments of Haryana and other states,” said Nalwa.
Nalwa also said the Punjab Cultural Council has written a letter to Narendra Singh Tomar for demanding ex gratia grant of Rs 25 lakh to each family of the farmers, who lost their lives amid the protest. The demand for the repeal of three laws has also been made in the letter, said Nalwa.
List of farmers who sacrificed thier lives in Kisan Morcha: