Another Tragic Loss: Punjab farmer commits suicide amid protests
HARISH MONGA
Feroepur, January 9, 2025: Punjab farmer Resham Singh, 55, reportedly ended his life by consuming poison at the Shambhu border protest site on Thursday, highlighting the ongoing despair among India's agitating farmers.
In his dying declaration, the deceased farmer blamed the Modi government for its failure to address the farmers' demands and expressed anguish over the worsening condition of farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been on a fast-unto-death to press for their rights.
Sarwan Singh Pandher, a leader of the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, confirmed that Resham Singh, who owned less than an acre of land, had been participating in the protests for the past 10 days. After consuming insecticide, he was rushed to a government hospital in Rajpura. His condition worsened, and he was transferred to Rajendra Hospital in Patiala, where doctors declared him dead.
This is the second farmer suicide reported at the Shambhu border in recent weeks. Last month, 57-year-old Ranjodh Singh also consumed poison at the protest site, reportedly distressed over the deteriorating health of farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal. Dallewal, 70, has been on a hunger strike for 45 days at the Khanauri border, urging protesters to persist even in the event of his death.
Farmers have been staging protests at the Punjab-Haryana border since February last year, demanding a legal guarantee for the minimum support price (MSP) for crops. Their attempts to march to Delhi have faced police resistance, including tear gas and baton charges.
The agitation traces its roots to three agricultural reform laws passed in September 2020, which farmers believed would favour corporate interests and undermine their livelihoods. Although Prime Minister Narendra Modi repealed the laws after prolonged protests, the demand for MSP and other grievances remain unresolved.
