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As the farmers' agitation against the new agricultural laws entered its 21st day, a 65-year-old priest of a gurudwara in Haryana allegedly died by suicide at the Singhu border protest site on Wednesday, 16 December.
The deceased has been identified as Baba Ram Singh of Singhra village in Nissing area of Haryana's Karnal district. The farmer left a note which states that he ‘couldn't see the ordeal of farmers’ who are sitting on the outskirts of the national capital protesting against the recently-passed farm laws.
In the first official reaction from Haryana, CM Manohar Lal Khattar expressed grief at Singh’s death on Thursday through a tweet, calling it an “irreparable loss” for society and him as well.
The 65-year-old had shot himself at around 5:30 pm, the police said. "He was rushed to Park hospital in Panipat and was declared dead on arrival by the doctors," said Shyam Lal Poonia, the Deputy Police Commissioner of Sonipat.
His body is now on its way to Karnal, where he lived, the officer added, where his funeral will take place on Friday.
Opposition Leaders Offer Condolences
Aam Admi Party Leader and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal tweeted in Hindi saying, “The news of Sant Baba Ram Singh Ji's suicide is very painful. Condolences to his family in this hour of grief. Our farmer is asking for his right, the government should listen to the voice of the farmers and all three black laws should be withdrawn.”
"Sant Baba Ram Singh from Karnal died by suicide over the farmers' condition at Kundli border. My condolences in this moment of grief... many farmers have sacrificed their lives. The Modi government has crossed all the limits of cruelty. Stop being adamant and take back the anti-farmer laws," tweeted Congress's Rahul Gandhi in Hindi.
Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Badal also took to twitter to express his anguish over Sant Baba Ram Singh having lost his life.
SAD spokesperson and Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee President Manjinder Singh Sirsa expressed grief over the incident. He tweeted saying, "Sant Baba Ram Singh died by suicide seeing the plight of farmers. This protest has rattled the country to its core. I offer my prayers to Waheguru, for his soul rests in peace.”
Farmers’ representatives have told NDTV that so far, more than 20 protesters have died. In solidarity with the martyrs, a Homage Day will be held on 20 December. A farmer leader from Maharashtra, Rishipal, spoke to the news channel and said, "A Homage Day (Shraddhanjali Diwas) for all the farmers who lost their lives and became martyrs in the ongoing protest will be organised across the country in villages and tehsil headquarters on 20 December from 11 am to 1 pm."
(With inputs from NDTV)
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