Farmer Protest Intensifies: Mahapanchayats Scheduled Amid Central Agency Raids

Farmers in Delhi have been protesting since February 13, with Mahapanchayats planned in Jind and Pipli. Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher claims the BJP is using central agencies to intimidate protesters ahead of elections. The demands include legal guarantees for MSP.

Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher has stated that the ongoing protest in Delhi, which began on February 13, will see significant gatherings in Jind on September 15 and Pipli on September 22. Pandher accused the central government of misusing agencies to stifle the farmers' movement as elections loom in Haryana.

The protests, centered at the Shambhu border near Ambala, have continued despite a heavy police presence and attempts to quell the agitation. According to Pandher, 433 farmers have been injured since February, with one fatality reported. Approximately 70,000 paramilitary personnel have been deployed in Haryana to manage the protests, which Pandher claims have become a major concern for the ruling BJP.

Amid the upcoming elections, the Modi government has been accused of intimidating farmers through agency raids, particularly noting the recent NIA raid on BKU leader Sukhwinder Kaur's home. Despite these pressures, Pandher emphasized that the farmers will persist until their demands, including legal guarantees for MSP, are met. Plans for significant farmer gatherings on the 200th day of the protest include demanding the reopening of borders to march towards Delhi. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has asked Haryana and Punjab to nominate neutral persons for a committee to facilitate negotiations.

(With inputs from agencies.)