Punjab and Haryana have started to come at loggerheads over the farmers issue. Punjab Chief Secretary Anurag Verma on Saturday wrote a letter to Haryana Chief Secretary Sanjeev Kaushal, demanding to hand over a farmer from Punjab, who is undergoing treatment in Rohtak. Verma in his detailed letter stated that it has come to notice that Pritpal Singh, a farmer from Punjab who got injured during the 'Dilli Chalo' protest march is undergoing treatment at PGI Rohtak. Therefore, the Haryana Government is requested to hand over the farmer so that the Punjab Government can bear his expenses. Below is what Anurag Verma's letter said-
"It has come to our notice that Sh. Pritpal Singh from Punjab who got hurt during Farmers' Agitation is undergoing treatment at PGI Rohtak. You are requested to hand over Sh. Pritpal Singh to Punjab authorities so that his treatment may be got done in Punjab free of cost by Punjab Government. Further, if any other agitating farmer from Punjab is under treatment in Haryana, he should also be handed over to us."
Farmers' Death During Delhi March Protest
An elderly farmer protesting at the Khanauri Border died due to a heart attack bringing the tally upto 5 deaths in the ongoing “Delhi Chalo” march. The deceased identified as Darshan Singh was a resident of Amargarh village in Bathinda district, and had been staying at the Khanauri border since February 13.
Darshan Singh had just married off his son less than a month ago. The farmer's family owns nearly 8 acres of land and owes a debt of Rs 8 lakh. The farmer organization BKU Ekta Sidhupur, sharing their condolences, has demanded compensation for the bereaved family. The organization's district Bathinda general secretary, Resham Singh, said that the government must concede to demands to prevent more farmers from dying at borders.