The 21-year-old farmer, Shubhkaran Singh who died during the clashes between the police and the protesting farmers on Khanauri border left behind his mentally ill father and an unwed sister. His mother died years ago.

The 21 years old, a resident of Balloch village of Bathinda in Punjab, left his home on February 13 to join the Delhi Chalo march. Reports stated that Shubhkaran Singh was the youngest among the group of 15 people who left to join the protest from the village.

Reportedly, Shubhkaran was the only son and sole breadwinner of the family. The 21-year-old farmer has about two acres of land. Shubhkaran, who has two sisters, also took a loan for the marriage of his one sister.

The farmers who halted their protest for two days after the death of the youth, have blocked the autopsy. Farmer Leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal has asked the AAP led Punjab Government to declare Shubhkaran a martyr and provide benefits accordingly. The leader further said that the government should create a five member board to conduct the post-mortem examination.

Meanwhile, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said that the police took action when the farmers were peacefully trying to cross over into Haryana. He added that more than 100 farmers have been injured and demanded the treatment of injured farmers.

Haryana police while appealing for peace said that farmers escalated the violence by attacking the police personnels with sticks and maces and that the police were only trying to restrain them.

Issuing a statement, Additional Inspector General, Manisha Chaudhary said that farmers surrounded the police from all sides, burned stubble by pouring chilli powder in it. She added that around 12 policemen were seriously injured because of the attacks by protestors at Datta Singh Wala-Khanauri border.

Meanwhile, farmer’s leader Pandher said that farmer leaders will discuss future actions and until then, all farmers will remain camped at the borders.

The Congress party on Thursday slammed the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government over the action of microblogging platform X blocking accounts and posts linked to the ongoing farmers’ protest and called it a murder of democracy.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh, taking to X, said that the action taken by the social media platform on the Centre’s order was a murder of democracy in India.

The Elon Musk-led X, sharing a post on its platform in response to the IT ministry’s order asking it to temporarily block 177 accounts linked to the farmers’ protest, said that the Indian government has issued executive orders requiring it to act on specific accounts and posts, subject to potential penalties, including significant fines and imprisonment.

The X’s Global Government Affairs team further stated that it complied with the orders and they would withhold these accounts and posts in India alone, however, they disagreed with these actions and maintained that freedom of expression should extend to these posts.

Consistent with their position, a writ appeal challenging the Indian government’s blocking orders remains pending. X has also provided the impacted users with notice of these actions following their policies.

Due to legal restrictions, they were unable to publish the executive orders, but they thought that making them public was essential for transparency. This lack of disclosure can lead to a lack of accountability and arbitrary decision-making, the X’s Global Government Affairs said in a post on its platform.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also hit out at the Modi government and termed it a murder of democracy. Taking to X, he raised several questions and said if farmers ask for MSP, shoot them. Is this the Mother of Democracy? Gandhi further said that when the youth ask for the appointment, the Centre refuse to even listen to them, if the former governor tells the truth, then they send CBI to his house.

He also attacked the Modi government for freezing the bank accounts of the most prominent opposition party. He added, saying that Section 144, internet ban, sharp wires, and tear gas shells on farmers are not justified in the democracy. He further attacked the Centre for suppressing the voice of the people. He charged on Centre, saying Modi ji public knows that the government have murdered democracy and they will answer it.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that his government has left no stone unturned to ensure the welfare of farmers.

While addressing farmers at the golden jubilee celebration of the Gujarat Cooperation Milk Marketing Federation in Ahmedabad, PM Modi said that his government has built 60,000 Amrit Sarovars across the country.

This initiative will not only benefit farmers but will also strengthen the rural economy, he added. The central government aims to provide modern technology and its know-how even to the small farmers of the country, PM Modi further added.

Asserting that, PM Modi said that his government has been focusing on improving the life of small farmers, increasing the scope of animal husbandry, improving the health of animals, encouraging animal husbandry as well as pisciculture and beekeeping in the village.

PM Modi further said that the Centre has provided the farmers with modern seeds to combat climate change.

He threw light on the Kisan Credit Card facility and said that his government, for the first time, provided it to cattle farmers and fish farmers. Adding that he said farmers have been provided with such modern seeds which can combat climate change.

During the address, he also highlighted the Nari Shakti drive and called them the main force behind the flourishing dairy sector in the country. He declared the government’s commitment to stepping up the economic power of women.

PM Modi also lauded the growth of Amul and said that it has become a symbol of the strength of the nation’s cattle rearers.

Later in the day, PM Modi also visited an exhibition by Amul on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the GCMMF.

Meanwhile, SKM called a meeting to address the situation at the Shambhu and Khanauri border between Punjab and Haryana, where farmers have been camping as part of the Delhi Chalo movement. Leaders from various states including Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal were present at the meeting.