A 55-year-old farmer from Pahuwind in Punjab’s Tarn Taran district reportedly took his own life at the Shambhu border, where farmers have been protesting for nearly a year. They are asking the government to guarantee minimum support prices (MSP) for their crops. The farmer was upset because the government hasn’t resolved their issues, as noted by farmer leader Tejvir Singh.
This is the second suicide at the protest site in just three weeks. On December 18, another farmer died in a similar way, feeling distressed about the health of 70-year-old farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal. Dallewal has been on a hunger strike since November 26, asking for support for the farmers.
Farmer leaders warned that if anything happens to Dallewal, the situation might become very difficult for the government to handle. “If something bad happens to Dallewal, the Central government might lose control,” said farmer leader Abhimanyu Kohar.
Recently, a special committee from the Supreme Court met with Dallewal, and a local police official reported that Dallewal refused medical help. Punjab’s health minister Balbir Singh urged Prime Minister Modi to speak with Dallewal. “The health of Dallewal is important. If the Prime Minister talks to him, we can solve the problems,” Singh said. Many people are suffering due to the protests, and they want the borders of Punjab to reopen.
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