February 22, 2024
DELHI – Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday launched a scathing attack at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the killing of a 24-year-old protesting farmers at Khanauri border. The deceased protester, identified as Shubhkaran Singh, was allegedly killed in police firing.
Reacting to the incident, the Congress MP said, “Extremely saddened with the death of young farmer Shubhkaran Singh in firing on Khanauri border. I extend my condolences to his family. Modi’s arrogance had led to sacrifices by more than 700 farmers last time. Now, it has become an enemy of their lives once again,” Gandhi posted on X.
“One day, history will definitely demand an account of the ‘killing of farmers’ from the BJP which is hiding behind the friendly media,” he added.
Earlier today, the farmers resumed their ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest march but suspended it for two days after the Khanauri border incident.
As the farmers tried to remove barricades set up to prevent them from marching towards Delhi, police in BJP-ruled Haryana fired tear gas shells at them.
The police alleged that the farmers surrounded them and attacked with sticks and pelted stones. It further claimed that 12 policemen sustained injuries in the attack.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) which rules Punjab and Delhi said called Prime Minister Modi “General Kayar (coward)” equated the killing of the youth farmer with British-era atrocities.
“General Kayar’s government is the murderer of Shubhkaran…Was it for this day that Bhagat Singh and lakhs of martyrs fought for freedom?That one day the central government in our own country will martyr our youth like the British?” the AAP asked.
“Aam Aadmi Party completely stands with Shubhakaran’s family and will ensure strict punishment to Shubhakaran’s murderers,” it added.
Meanwhile, Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee president Sarwan Singh Pandher on announced that the ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest march by farmers will be halted for the next two days after a protester was killed allegedly in police firing at Khanauri border.
“We will have discussions over the incident that took place in Khanauri. There will be a two-day stay on our march towards Delhi. We will clarify the entire situation later as to what our further movement will be,” Pandher said at a press conference.