Farmers refuse to come down until compensation demand is met; police, administration rush to the spot in Sirsa
In Sirsa, Haryana, on Wednesday morning, nine farmer leaders — including the district president of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Chaduni) — suddenly climbed onto an electricity transmission tower. Among them was also a differently-abled young man. The farmers carried a charpai (cot) and food rations up with them. They warned that they would not come down until their demand for increased compensation was met.
As soon as news of the farmers climbing the tower spread, it caused a stir among police, administration, and electricity board officials. A police team was the first to reach the spot and cordoned off the area around the tower. Administration and electricity board officials also arrived at the scene and attempted to persuade the farmers to come down. However, the farmers are demanding increased compensation similar to what was given in Sonipat and other districts. Meanwhile, Gurnam Singh Chaduni, president of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Chaduni), also expressed support for the farmers. Going live on social media, he said that the farmers should not jump from the tower, and that he was on his way.
A meeting between farmer organizations and the administration was held on Tuesday in Sirsa, but it failed. In this meeting, the farmers had demanded full compensation, similar to other districts. In Sirsa, some farmers still haven't received any compensation, while others have received very little. It is against this that the farmer leaders are protesting. They say that large towers have been installed on their farmland. Their demand to the Chief Minister is that full compensation be paid — a demand the Chief Minister has himself previously announced he would fulfill. Gurnam Singh went live on social media to deliver this message. As soon as he learned of this, union president Gurnam Singh went live and issued a message saying that no one should jump from the tower. "We will fight our battle, and I too will reach there shortly. All fellow farmers should head to the spot," he said.
